Bollywood actor John Abraham, who played Indian diplomat JP Singh in the political drama, The Diplomat, expressed shock over a ban on the film in the Middle Eastern countries. The action-thriller, which was released to critical acclaim in India, and it has reportedly been prohibited from screening in several Gulf regions due to its sensitive political themes.
In a recent interview, the Pathaan actor expressed his disappointment over the unexpected decision, stating he was 'shocked' by the ban.
Clarifying the film's intent during a conversation with Hindustan Times, John defended the narrative and refuted claims of it being anti-Pakistan.
"People are very myopic in their vision. This is not an anti-Pakistan film. If at all, we showed that the judiciary system in Pakistan is honest. We showed an honest Pakistani lawyer and an honest Pakistani judge. Even the patrolling cars that are taking us to the border had honest policemen. They are actually fighting against the other guys. So, we've in no way demeaned anybody," John stated.
"Very categorically Shivam and I discussed that this cannot be a jingoism film. We’ve seen too many of them in the recent past, and that is not our formula of success. We have to be sensitive to people and to countries, because there are good and bad people everywhere. We didn't cheat anybody or sell our souls for the film," he added.
Directed by Shivam Nair, The Diplomat is inspired by real events and follows the story of a courageous Indian diplomat who works against all odds to bring justice across borders. The has been praised for its tight screenplay and John's intense performance.
In an interview before the film's release, John addressed the culture of jingoism in cinema and opened up about the makers' conscious decision to avoid stereotypical portrayals of Pakistanis in The Diplomat.
Praising the film’s writer Ritesh Shah and director Shivam Nair, John told India Today, "Full credit to the writer Ritesh Shah and to my director Shivam Nair, who have not painted Pakistanis as evil. They are just people, and people can be both good and bad."
The actor further elaborated on the film’s nuanced narrative, saying, "We have shown both the good and bad of that country. One doesn’t need to be jingoistic. We have shown everything the way it is meant to be shown."
The film hit the big screens on March 14, on the occasion of Holi. It also stars Sadia Khateeb, Revathy, Kumud Mishra, Sharib Hashmi and others.
