Tehran Movie Review: John Abraham’s Spy Thriller Packed with Action & Twists

If you like your Independence week watchlist to pack nerves and nuance, Tehran Movie on ZEE5 is a strong pick. Headlined by John Abraham, the film threads a high stakes investigation with a grounded, almost procedural look at espionage and geopolitics. Inspired by the February 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats across New Delhi, Tbilisi and Bangkok, it folds true events into a fictional manhunt that tests loyalties across India, Iran and Israel. The film went straight to ZEE5 on August 14, 2025, skipping theatres and landing squarely in the binge zone for the long weekend.

Tehran Movie: Quick Facts (At a Glance)

Title: Tehran
Where to watch: ZEE5 (India & select regions)
Release date: August 14, 2025
Runtime: ~115 minutes (about 1h 55m)
Language: Primarily Hindi; portions in Farsi & Hebrew
Genre: Geopolitical spy thriller / action-drama
Director: Arun Gopalan
Producers: Dinesh Vijan, Shobhna Yadav, Sandeep Leyzell
Music: Songs by Tanishk Bagchi; score by Ketan Sodha
Streaming rating cues: Suitable for mature audiences (violence, peril)
Sources: ZEE5 listing, industry reports, and press coverage.

Tehran Movie: Star Cast & Characters

John Abraham as ACP Rajiv (Rajeev) Kumar – a Special Cell officer whose investigation places him at the crossroads of multiple nations’ interests.
Manushi Chhillar as SI Divya Rana – a young officer who becomes Rajiv’s crucial support in the field.
Neeru Bajwa as Sheilaja – a key civilian voice who lends emotional and moral texture to the conflict.
Hadi Khanjanpour as Afshar/Afsar – an Iranian link whose presence nudges the story beyond borders.
Madhurima Tuli, Adam Karst, Allon Sylvain, Alyy Khan, Ido Samuel, among others, round out the international ensemble.

Tehran Movie: Movie Plot (In Detail)

The film begins with a car bombing near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi in 2012, a devastating event that shocks the city and triggers a specialized probe led by ACP Rajiv Kumar. What appears to be a localized terror incident evolves swiftly into a transnational conspiracy.

Clues point ominously beyond India’s borders, toward Iran, and possibly involving Israel. Rajiv and his colleague SI Divya Rana chase paper trails, intercept coded messages, and consult off the books intel contacts. As diplomatic tension simmers, Rajiv’s inquiry forces him into moral lapses, shaded allegiances, and the fear that every ally might harbor a secret.

The film achieves intensity through nuance, surveillance chess, clandestine meetings, encrypted threats not explosive spectacle, but the quiet kind of terror that creeps through a phone call or a suspicious glance. The plot unfolds in stages:

Investigation and First Leads – The team follows the bomber’s last known movements, discovers encrypted correspondence, and starts linking the blasts to international cell networks.
Political Crossroads – Indian politicians push for calm; embassies spar over jurisdiction. Rajiv’s team gets walking papers from higher ups, but he presses on.
Heart of Tehran – The narrative threads its way to Iran, with Afshar’s presence hinting at deeper alliances and betrayals.
Personal Stakes – Sheilaja, who emerges from Rajiv’s past, injects empathic gravitas. Meanwhile, Rajiv wrestles with national duty and personal sacrifice.
Final Confrontation – In a tense showdown blending intelligence, timing, and moral reckoning, truths are revealed actions taken, and consequences borne.

When the film ends, it doesn’t offer closure so much as a question: in the shadow world of espionage, does “winning” ever look heroic or just necessary?

Highlights:

John Abraham’s delivery—steady and internalized, avoiding his usual action hero bravado.
Narrative restraint—goes for slow burn tension rather than action overload.
Atmosphere—a sober tone, with locations and sound design conveying urgency without gloss.

Drawbacks:

Certain arc resolutions feel predictable if you’re genre savvy.
Underscreened supporting characters might leave viewers wanting more depth.

Tehran Movie: Personal View

For me, Tehran was like stepping into a slow pulse thriller that sharpens with every scene. John Abraham’s measured performance held the film together, you could practically feel his inner tension without grand monologues or explosions. The film’s strength lies in how it’s quietly relentless, each deduction and withheld word ratchets up the pressure. While it doesn’t reinvent espionage drama, it fashions enough grounded realism to make you care and linger after the screen goes dark. It’s a film that rewards patience and attentiveness, and in a binge culture, that felt refreshingly intelligent.

Tehran Movie: FAQs

1. Is Tehran Movie based on real events?
Yes. It’s inspired by the February 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats in multiple cities (New Delhi, Tbilisi, Bangkok). A fictionalized investigation builds around those real world incidents.

2. Where can I stream it?
ZEE5, starting August 14, 2025, in India and select international regions.

3. How long is the Tehran movie?
Roughly 115 minutes, crisp and purposefully lean.

4. Who directed and produced it?
Directed by Arun Gopalan. Produced by Dinesh Vijan, Shobhna Yadav, and Sandeep Leyzell.

5. Who stars in Tehran Movie?
Main cast: John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, Neeru Bajwa, Hadi Khanjanpour, plus a strong supporting ensemble.

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Prashant

Hi, I’m Prashant Jain — a curious soul, storyteller, and content creator at heart.I’ve always been drawn to the world of entertainment, travel, sports, health & lifestyle — not just as a writer, but as someone who genuinely lives these experiences. Whether I’m binge-watching the latest OTT series, exploring offbeat spiritual destinations in India, or diving deep into wellness routines and cricket match insights, I love sharing what I discover with like-minded readers.
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