How refreshing it is to see John Abraham not punching Pakistanis with a hand pump, like Sunny Deol in Gadar. His weapon of choice is a phone and he’s trying to diplomatically solve a crisis. Who knew the man was capable of not using his muscles as the main tool in his skill set? The Diplomat, inspired by the real-life rescue of Uzma Ahmed, revolves around Indian diplomat J P Singh (John Abraham), who finds himself in the middle of a very uncomfortable diplomatic situation. A woman, Uzma (Sadia Khateeb), shows up at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, claiming she’s been abducted by a Pakistani man who tricked her into a marriage. Now, it’s up to J P, a man of courageous diplomacy, to wade through a minefield of international tension. And no, John doesn’t rip off his shirt and beats the bad guys to a pulp while enacting J P. This time, he’s acting as if speaking calmly to his Pakistani counterparts could actually work. What a daring move for the action star. That he manages to pull off the role has made us realise there was an actor hidden somewhere beneath all the brawn.

John Abraham’s portrayal of JP Singh is a marked departure from the usual biceps-and-brooding routine. The restraint is almost so convincing that you forget he’s the same guy who single-handedly takes down entire villainous organisations in his action-packed romps. The lack of his usual action-hero energy might be a shock to those expecting the typical loud, brash portrayals he’s known for. But, for once, he’s playing a man whose strength doesn’t come from breaking bones, but from the fortitude to patiently navigate the political minefield. He holds the phone like a man who knows the power of communication. We half expected him to dramatically throw it across the room at some point, just for the old times’ sake. Alas, no such luck.

The film attempts to get its audience invested in the political maze while keeping the personal drama intact. The drama’s heart lies in Uzma’s struggle, beautifully portrayed by Sadia Khateeb. She’s someone who’s truly suffering, and John is there to gently hold her hand and guide her back to India. Sadia makes Uzma’s suffering look real and you’re batting for her from the first frame to the last. You want her to come back home safe. The audience actually cheers when she crosses the border. Jagjeet Sandhu, who plays Uzma’s brute of a husband, Tahir, is so convincingly vile that you’d love to hate him. He nails the role so perfectly, it makes you wonder how he manages to sleep at night. As for Ashwath Bhatt, well, it seems he’s made a bit of a career out of playing caddish Pakistani intelligence officers. Sharib Hashmi plays Tiwari, a civil servant afraid of being posted in Pakistan and his eccentricities do bring in a laugh or two. One cannot fail to mention Revathy as the ever-gracious Sushma Swaraj, a role that she plays with the finesse of someone who knows exactly how to handle international crises. Not all Pakis are bad. Kumud Mishra plays a helpful lawyer who helps Uzma get justice in a Pakistani court.

Despite the film’s somewhat slow start, once it picks up the pace, it delivers some genuinely compelling moments—largely thanks to Sadia Khateeb’s powerful performance and the central tension surrounding the international implications of Uzma’s plight. John Abraham remains committed to playing it cool, keeping the focus on diplomacy over dramatics. Who knew the man could pull that off without having to tear off his shirt and yelling Mera Bharat Mahan?

The Diplomat might not be for the “bang, boom, pow” crowd, but for those looking for a diplomatic thriller that dials down the violence and cranks up the tension, it’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect John to pick up a hand pump anytime soon. He’s too busy picking up the phone…

See Also: The Diplomat Trailer: John Abraham wows in this gripping political thriller