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The Diplomat

7 March 2025HindiorigEnglishUrdu2h 10m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 3 not rated

John Abraham holds his own, but the film stays too close to the official line.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: John Abraham's lead performance
  • Criticised: Safe, surface-level storytelling

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Critic consensus

What 9 critics are saying

Critical reception for The Diplomat is mixed-to-moderate, with most reviewers acknowledging its engaging premise and the performances of John Abraham, Kumud Mishra, Jagjeet Sandhu, and Sadia Khateeb as genuine strengths. Several critics found the film serviceable as a thriller, with one calling it a solid and fearless retelling of a real-life story. However, a recurring criticism is that the film plays it safe and fails to dig beneath the official version of events, with some noting the execution feels contrived, simplistic, and falls short of the dramatic potential the true story offers.

How the 6 scores spread

3 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (9)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    NDTV

    Film review

    John Abraham does justice to the role, and Kumud Mishra, as always, and Jagjeet Sandhu, in the role of a shockingly detestable man, are both solid.
  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review

    It would have been tempting to drown this film in bigotry. But the Pakistan-bashing—of course there is some—stays low-key, the characters who play the vicious tribals amongst whom Uzma is trapped balanced by those who are able to see reason.
  3. KoiMoi

    Film review

    The director keeps things real—very real! In this phase of cinema, The Diplomat is a solid case of a real-life story told fearlessly. Go watch!
  4. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    THE DIPLOMAT is a nail-biting thriller that brings a shocking and heroic true story to life. At the box office, the film may start slow, but with strong word of mouth, it has the potential to grow and make a lasting impact.
  5. Rediff

    Film review

    The possibilities of this serviceable thriller are immense but the makers prefer to play it safe and hold back the daredevil in the diplomat's clothing. John Abraham plays Jitender Pal Singh with firmness and charm, meeting the film's expectations, while Sadia Khateeb portrays the dread and desperation of a wounded figure with crushing intensity.
  6. Firstpost

    Film review

    The Diplomat featuring John Abraham as JP Singh and Sadia Khateeb as Uzma Ahmed is an engaging real-life story which will give you shivers down your spine. Not just John Abraham, Sadia Khateeb's performance as Uzma Ahmed is mind blowing in an explosive political drama.
  7. HollywoodReporterIndia

    Film review

    The Diplomat has all the elements of a solid thriller, but the execution falls short of delivering a compelling political drama that matches the caliber of films like Argo or Bridge of Spies.
  8. The Hindu

    Film review

    As it turns out, it is yet another addition to the trend where filmmakers flaunt the placard of 'based on a true story' but develop cold feet in digging the truth of the story. Recreating the sarkari version of the events, The Diplomat sounds contrived and simplistic. It reminds one of John's last production, Vedaa, where masala diluted the integrity of the story.

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