Tehran was my choice this Independence Day weekend, among many other John Abraham films, including Diplomat. I’ll come to which one stands as the best movie of the year, but for now, let me say this: Tehran is easily one of the best action thrillers I’ve watched this year.
Tehran Movie Review: John Abraham Shines in a Gripping Independence Day Action Thriller
What was the reason that kept me glued until the very end? Let’s not waste time—let’s dive in and see whether it’s the must-watch film of the weekend that can compete with Hrithik Roshan’s War 2.
At first, Tehran doesn’t let you connect the dots, but slowly, it makes you comfortable enough to stick to your seat until the credits roll. I’d call it a slow-burn entertainer, but one that pays off the time you invest.
The story is based on a true incident in Delhi, connected to a bomb blast. John Abraham plays ACP Rajeev Kumar, a man shaken by the tragedy, forcing him to make decisions beyond family and friendships. A young victim of the blast drives him thousands of miles to seek revenge. The journey takes him to Tehran—the beautiful capital of Iran—where, with three allies, he hunts down those responsible for collateral damage to India (the Israeli embassy in Delhi).
When it comes to performances, Hadi Khajanpour as Afshan Hosseini stood out. He delivered an excellent performance alongside John. Madhurima Tuli returns after many years, but her character unfortunately lacks depth, fitting the typical mold of an IPS officer’s wife (set in 2012).
Manushi Chhillar, Miss World 2017, impressed me as a supporting actor. She portrayed a strong, traditional police officer’s partner—reminiscent of Kareena Kapoor Khan’s look in Agent Vinod. I’m not saying she mimicked Kareena’s performance, but she carried herself with genuine conviction. Sadly, her character exits near the climax, which left me disappointed. Still, her presence adds much-needed depth and engagement to the film.
Other noteworthy contributions came from Neeru Bajwa and Elnaaz Norouzi, who added important layers to the narrative. Dinkar Sharma also deserves credit for his supporting role.
If you’re torn between watching War 2 in theatres or scrolling endlessly through Netflix and Amazon Prime without finding something new, I strongly suggest giving Tehran a chance.
Social media has been buzzing with positive reactions. But what exactly is the true event it’s based on? The film leaves much unsaid, prompting viewers to dig deeper. The incident in question was an Iranian-sponsored attack on February 13, 2012, where a magnetic explosive weighing 250–300 grams was attached to the car of an Israeli embassy diplomat in Delhi. For more details, you can read Gareth Porter’s report.
