- Saturday, March 22, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
John Abraham’s latest film, The Diplomat, hit theaters on March 14, coinciding with the Holi festival. The political thriller, directed by Shivam Nair, received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. However, in a surprising revelation, the actor shared that several OTT platforms initially rejected the film, claiming it lacked appeal.
In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, John Abraham opened up about the challenges The Diplomat faced before its theatrical release. He explained that the film was first presented to streaming platforms as part of the studio’s strategy to mitigate risks. However, many OTT platforms dismissed the film, stating they did not find it compelling enough. “The loss of faith happens from the studio. When a studio sends a film to an OTT channel, and some OTT channels reject it because they don’t find it great, they throw it out,” John said.
Despite the initial setback, The Diplomat defied expectations upon its release. The actor highlighted that the film’s success was even more satisfying because industry insiders had low expectations. “The best thing about this film is that people’s expectations were zero, but it straight went to 10,” he added. John portrays Indian diplomat JP Singh in the movie, a role inspired by real-life events, and his performance has been widely praised.
According to a report by Sacnilk, The Diplomat has performed well at the box office despite its earlier rejection by streaming platforms. In its first week, the film collected ₹19.15 crore in India, with a global tally of ₹26.80 crore. Cities such as Chennai, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Mumbai recorded the highest occupancy rates, indicating strong audience interest.
Set against a backdrop of real-life political events, The Diplomat delves into themes of diplomacy, international relations, and the personal struggles faced by diplomats. Alongside John Abraham, the film features an ensemble cast including Sadia, Jagjeet Sandhu, Ashwath Bhatt, Prapti Shukla, Sharib Hashmi, Kumud Mishra, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Benjamin Gilani, and Vidhatri Band.
While OTT platforms initially rejected The Diplomat, the film’s box office success has proven the naysayers wrong. John Abraham’s portrayal of JP Singh and the film’s gripping narrative have resonated with audiences, making it one of the surprise hits of 2024.
