“I Won’t Fuel Hate Making Films Like Chhaava, TKF”

John Abraham is set to appear in his next film Tehran, which focuses on the 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats. While promoting the movie, he openly spoke about how many nationalist films depend on jingoism and religious sentiments to stir audience emotions.

He acknowledged that such films often perform well at the box office, but despite this trend, he has never been tempted to alter stories just to attract viewers. Speaking to the media, John stressed that censorship is necessary, though he feels the current approach is far from ideal for filmmakers and storytellers.

John shared that he does not align with either the left or the right wing, preferring to remain apolitical. However, he expressed concern that right-wing films today seem to draw the largest audiences. He admitted that as a filmmaker, this creates a choice between following the commercial route or staying true to personal vision, and he has chosen the latter.

His neutral stance and refusal to push more ideological narratives than already exist have been met with appreciation on social media. When asked if he would work on films like Chhaava and The Kashmir Files, he revealed he had not even watched Chhaava. He also said it is worrying when films created to influence audiences during highly political times still manage to find strong viewership.

Movies such as Chhaava, The Kashmir Files, and The Kerala Story have often faced criticism for promoting unverified narratives aimed at pleasing specific groups. By claiming to be inspired by true events, these films can reinforce existing religious and cultural biases among viewers.

Some have pointed out that while John claims to be apolitical, many of his recent projects are either army-based or deal with social issues. With Tehran’s release approaching, audiences are curious about the political elements it will explore and the message it will convey.

Directed by Arun Gopalan and produced by Maddock Film, Tehran is a geopolitical thriller inspired by the 2012 New Delhi bombing near the Israeli Embassy, which injured Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua Koren. The film will premiere on OTT on 14 August 2025.