Tehran: OTT giant picks John Abraham's spy thriller days after ZEE5 release—here’s when to watch

Summary:

• Tehran, starring John Abraham, premiered on ZEE5 on August 14 and will stream on Netflix from August 26, 2025.

• The film follows ACP Rajeev Kumar investigating 2012 Delhi assassinations, facing espionage, betrayal, and political tensions in Tehran.

• Directed by Arun Gopalan, it blends procedural action and tactical missions while aiming to attract a global audience.

Netflix will be streaming the John Abraham–starring Tehran after its OTT launch on ZEE5 (OTTplay) on August 14, 2025. The Arun Gopalan-directed spy action thriller starring John Abraham will premiere on Netflix as of August 26, 2025, as part of a larger digital rollout strategy.

Plot rooted in real-life geopolitical events

Based on the assassinations of Israeli diplomats in Delhi in 2012 and the subsequent covert operations, Tehran features Special Cell officer ACP Rajeev Kumar (John Abraham), Sheilaja (Neeru Bajwa), and SI Divya Rana (Manushi Chhillar) as the main leads. Madhurima Tuli plays Rajeev Kumar's wife Vandana, Alyy Khan plays Neeraj, and Elnaaz Norouzi plays Layla; all of them are part of the supporting cast.

The film tracks an investigation into the aftermath of the 2012 explosion in the Indian capital by ACP Rajeev Kumar, a character whose story is both fictional and influenced by real-life geopolitical issues. A perilous assignment leading him to Tehran engulfs him as he follows multiple leads. The plot thickens as his nation withdraws its support from the operation and Iran designates him as an enemy, placing him on a hit list. Stuck in a dangerous place without help from his country, Rajeev Kumar deals with betrayal, spies, and political agendas while trying to find out who is behind the incident.

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Gritty procedural tone and performances

The story remains grounded in procedural action under Gopalan's direction. The film maintains a gritty pace, focusing on surveillance missions, chase scenes, and tactical encounters. In a departure from his usual action performances, Abraham displays restraint rather than swagger. Bajwa and Chhillar, who portray officers within the Indian forces, support subplots including intelligence leaks and internal sabotage.

With its Netflix release, Tehran aims to attract a larger global audience interested in spy action thrillers about India-Iran relations. ZEE5 and Netflix timed the staggered streaming technique to coincide with India's Independence Day, following current patterns of multi-platform premieres.

Another addition to John Abraham’s spy-action oeuvre

Tehran follows a growing trend of jumping from home audiences to international streaming behemoths. The film, positioned as a straightforward addition to the espionage genre, seeks to capitalise on John Abraham's well-established appeal in geopolitical cinema as tensions intensify on screen and reality takes shape.

FAQs:

Q: When did Tehran release on ZEE5?

A: Tehran premiered on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025.

Q: When will Tehran be available on Netflix?

A: The film will stream on Netflix from August 26, 2025.

Q: Who stars in Tehran?

A3: The film features John Abraham, Neeru Bajwa, Manushi Chhillar, Madhurima Tuli, Alyy Khan, and Elnaaz Norouzi.