No, John Abraham’s film Tehran, a geopolitical thriller, is not anti-Pakistan. The film deliberately sidesteps the India-Pakistan binary, instead focusing on the complex relationship between Iran, Israel, and India.
According to media reports, director Arun Gopalan and John Abraham have both emphasized that they intended to craft a nuanced story centered on espionage and national interest, not to create propaganda against any specific nation.
Tehran avoids typical patriotic tropes and presents its characters in shades of grey, portraying the cycle of violence without clear heroes or villains.
John Abraham, who has Iranian heritage, stated that he wanted to portray Iran in a fair light and was careful not to make the film politically biased. He emphasized his apolitical stance and his commitment to honest storytelling, distancing himself from films that aim to politically influence audiences. The film underscores how ordinary people become collateral damage in geopolitical conflicts, focusing on the human cost rather than promoting nationalist agendas.
Overall, Tehran is a nuanced geopolitical drama—not an anti-Pakistan film. It seeks to portray all parties involved with complexity and balance.
The film stars John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, Neeru Bajwa, and Madhurima Tuli, and is currently streaming on Netflix.
