Directed by Shivam Nair, The Diplomat is a searing, emotional, and at times deeply unsettling political thriller based on the true story of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman who courageously escaped a forced marriage in Pakistan, making national news in 2017. With a gripping performance by Sadia Khateeb and a restrained, dignified portrayal by John Abraham, the film captures the harrowing personal struggle of one woman, set against the backdrop of tense Indo-Pak diplomatic relations.
Sadia Khateeb shines as Uzma, a young mother from Delhi who meets Tahir Ali (Jagjit Sandhu) while studying in Malaysia. What begins as a hopeful romance soon reveals itself as a nightmare. Tahir deceives her into traveling to Pakistan under the pretext of securing medical treatment for her daughter. Instead, she is drugged, taken to his remote tribal village in Bonair, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and coerced into a forced marriage.
The film unflinchingly depicts Uzma’s descent into captivity. In a haunting scene, she wakes up locked in a room, her identity and autonomy stripped, forced into a burqa, and surrounded by women whose weary eyes speak volumes about the generational toll of patriarchal violence. These moments powerfully illustrate the physical and emotional imprisonment many women face, not only through individual acts of abuse but through an entrenched system of control.
While The Diplomat portrays troubling aspects of life in a profoundly conservative village—including domestic violence and the silencing of women—it is careful not to indict an entire culture. The film draws attention to how systemic patriarchy can manifest within traditional societies, particularly where rigid social expectations constrain women’s freedoms. It also subtly critiques the distrust some tribal communities may harbor toward educated outsiders, especially women, revealing how a fear of change and a desire to preserve honor can foster resistance, control, and even violence.
Importantly, the film avoids demonizing Pashtun culture in its entirety. Instead, it underscores how abuse thrives where cultural norms are misused as tools of oppression. In doing so, it gives voice to countless women, within and beyond these regions, who continue to fight for dignity and self-determination in the face of deeply entrenched inequality.
The contrast between Uzma’s entrapment and her eventual refuge at the Indian embassy in Islamabad drives the second half of the film. There she meets JP Singh (John Abraham), a seasoned diplomat who takes on her case with quiet determination. Abraham’s performance is commendably restrained, allowing the focus to remain on Uzma’s resilience rather than shifting to a savior narrative.
The film also pays tribute to the real-life efforts of the late Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, under whose guidance the operation to bring Uzma home was carried out. Kumud Mishra and Sharib Hashmi round out the diplomatic team, lending credible support in navigating the complexities of cross-border negotiations.
The Diplomat delivers a compelling message about the endurance of the human spirit, especially that of women resisting erasure in patriarchal settings. However, at times the screenplay leans on broad strokes when it could have explored deeper nuances, particularly regarding Uzma’s inner world. Khateeb’s performance carries these emotional gaps, but a richer script could have elevated her transformation from a victim to a survivor with even more depth and complexity.
The Diplomat is more than a political thriller—it’s a fierce, empathetic portrait of a woman who refused to be silenced. By blending real-life urgency with cinematic intensity, Shivam Nair crafts a film that resonates on both emotional and socio-political levels. Without shying away from the uncomfortable realities of gender-based violence, it invites a broader conversation about the rights, safety, and agency of women across borders.
Sadia Khateeb’s unforgettable performance, the sobering cultural critique, and a powerful reminder that freedom is not given—it is claimed.
