John Abraham’s latest film The Diplomat may have slipped into theatres last month with little fanfare, but it’s proving to be the underdog story Bollywood didn’t see coming. With more shows being added weeks after release, the film is quietly gathering steam—a development that surprises even its lead actor and producer.

“No one knew when The Diplomat released. There was absolutely no confidence around the film from the partners involved,” John admits. “So, for it to shine out, I want to thank my critics and my audience. The audience always finds the good films.”

In a cinematic landscape often drenched in nationalistic fervour, The Diplomat treads carefully—and deliberately so. “We walked a thin line,” John shares. “Shivam [Nair, director] and I agreed this cannot be a jingoistic film. We’ve seen too many of those lately. You don’t need to put someone else down to feel tall.”

The film, written by Ritesh Shah, instead chose nuance. And ironically, that nuance led to its ban in the Middle East—something John calls “shocking.” “This is not an anti-Pakistan film. We showed honest Pakistani lawyers, judges, even police officers. They were fighting the bad guys with us. We didn’t cheat or sell our souls.”

Also notable is John’s choice to take a backseat in the narrative, supporting co-star Sadia Khateeb’s lead—a move that reflects his growing confidence as an artist. “It comes out of security,” he explains. “Do you want to keep playing glorified leads or do you want to tell a good story? I want to do the latter.”

And all this without a publicist or PR campaign. “I’ve built my story through my work. I don’t want to be known for my box office numbers, clothes, or relationships. Today, the audience values the choices an actor makes. That’s the story I want to be a part of.”

Against all odds, The Diplomat is proving that a good film, told with honesty and intention, will always find its audience—no gimmicks needed.