Common Sense Media Review
By Ishmeet Nagpal
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uneven Indian political drama includes sexual violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Diplomat
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE DIPLOMAT, an Indian woman, Uzma Ahmed (Sadia Khateeb), attempts to escape Pakistan after being trafficked. When J. P. Singh (John Abraham), Deputy High Commissioner of India in Pakistan, learns of her case, his efforts to bring Ahmed back to India create increasing political tensions between the two countries.
Is It Any Good?
This Indian political drama tells an engaging story based on true events, but the execution is uneven. In The Diplomat, Khateeb delivers a measured performance as Ahmed, showing the victim's trauma with empathy. However, the film takes significant liberties with reality and diplomatic procedures. Abraham's performance as the titular diplomat feels restrained, and some of his scenes feel out of place, especially those with his family that are failed attempts at comedic relief. Despite these missteps, the movie treats its subject matter seriously for the most part, though the depiction of sexual assault may feel excessive to some viewers. Elsewhere, Revathi stands out as the Union Minister of External Affairs, a character based on Sushma Swaraj. While the core story is compelling, the storytelling relies too heavily on stereotypes and patriotic rhetoric. The film would have benefited from more focus on actual diplomatic processes rather than broad generalizations about nationalities, but as it stands, it falls short of its potential.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence, particularly the sexual violence, portrayed in The Diplomat. Did you think it was necessary? What did it add to the story? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Which characters showed courage, perseverance, compassion, and empathy? How did they demonstrate these qualities? Why are these important character strengths?
The movie is loosely based on a true story. What should you keep in mind when watching films about real events? How can you tell what's factual versus what's been dramatized? What other movies based on true stories have you seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 14, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : May 9, 2025
- Cast : John Abraham , Sadia Khateeb , Revathi
- Director : Shivam Nair
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Panorama Studios
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : May 23, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate