If you’re building your patriotic movie playlist, start with the man who’s practically the face of deshbhakti thrillers, John Abraham. From covert missions to courtroom dramas, his films hit that perfect mix of action and national pride, something we recently explored in our review of The Diplomat, which shares a similarly intense tone and geopolitical edge. And now, with Tehran just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revisit the best John Abraham patriotic movies that set the tone for this upcoming geopolitical thriller.
As we gear up for the Tehran movie starring John Abraham, which is set to release on 14 August 2025 on ZEE5, just a day before Independence Day, it’s the perfect moment to rally together as fans of patriotic cinema. Whether you’re watching solo or with family, these films will prep you emotionally for what’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated action thrillers of the year., It’s worth revisiting the films that made him the face of Indian patriotism on screen.
Here’s your ultimate binge list of John Abraham movies to watch before Tehran
1. Madras Cafe (2013)
Platform: Netflix
Director: Shoojit Sircar
This valiant political thriller is John Abraham at his most intense. Playing an intelligence officer tangled in the Sri Lankan civil war, he carries the film with restrained power and realism. The film received critical acclaim for not glamorizing war and for spotlighting India’s role in geopolitics.
Why Watch It? Because it shows that patriotism isn’t about flag-waving—sometimes it’s about the hard, thankless decisions made behind enemy lines.
2. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018)
Platform: ZEE5
Director: Abhishek Sharma
This one is patriotic gold. Based on India’s nuclear test in 1998, John plays a driven IAS officer who stops at nothing to give India its edge on the global stage. It’s not just action- it’s emotion, strategy, and legacy rolled into one.
Why Watch It? This is textbook patriotic Bollywood film storytelling, but without the jingoism.
3. Batla House (2019)
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Nikkhil Advani
Based on real events, Batla House dives into the controversial police encounter post the 2008 Delhi serial blasts. John’s portrayal of ACP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav is heavy with emotion and grit. It explores duty vs. personal cost most deeply.
Why Watch It? It’s not just a cop story. It’s a meditation on what it means to serve the nation when the nation doubts you.
4. Romeo Akbar Walter (2019)
Platform: Netflix
Director: Robbie Grewal
Spy thrillers and John Abraham go hand-in-hand. This one has him playing a bank employee-turned-undercover agent in Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Why Watch It? It’s espionage-meets-emotion, and John pulls off the layered performance well. The emotional cost of patriotism hits hard here.
5. Satyameva Jayate (2018)
Platform: Netflix
Director: Milap Zaveri
If you’re into over-the-top vigilante justice with a blood-soaked tricolor waving behind slow-motion punches, this one’s your jam. John plays a cop-turned-vigilante targeting corrupt officials.
Why Watch It? It may be loud, but it screams deshbhakti in every frame. Perfect for fans who like their patriotism with a bit of massy madness.
6. Force (2011)
Platform: JioHotstar
Director: Nishikant Kamat
Before he became the face of patriotic thrillers, John made waves as ACP Yashvardhan in Force. It’s not explicitly patriotic, but his dedication to justice and duty is unmistakable.
Why Watch It? It’s the beginning of John’s journey as Bollywood’s action-patriot.
7. Attack (2022)
Platform: ZEE5
Director: Lakshya Raj Anand
An experimental mix of sci-fi and warfare, Attack has John playing India’s first super-soldier. While the concept was a gamble, it shows the evolution of patriotic storytelling in Bollywood.
Why Watch It? It’s different, bold, and reflective of a new India that fights not just with courage, but with tech.
8. Satyameva Jayate 2 (2021)
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Milap Zaveri
This is the fast food of patriotic cinema: triple roles, triple punches, and triple “Bharat Mata ki Jai!” It’s a masala entertainer, but don’t underestimate its effect on your inner nationalist.
Why Watch It? It’s John at his most extra, and we low-key love it.
What to Expect from Tehran
While official details are hush-hush, Tehran is expected to be a geopolitical action thriller, possibly based on real-life events involving India’s covert operations in the Middle East. If Madras Cafe was a thinking man’s spy drama, Tehran could be the next evolution—grittier, bigger, and even more global.
If early leaks are true, we’re looking at cyber warfare, border tensions, nuclear diplomacy, and intelligence showdowns. Aka, John’s comfort zone.
Why John + Patriotism Works (Every. Single. Time.)
Let’s be real: John Abraham is built like a tank, but he acts with his eyes.
He doesn’t overplay nationalism. There’s no chest-thumping monologues or teary-eyed flag salutes. Instead, he brings out a quiet intensity, the kind that makes you feel the stakes without screaming about it.
He’s carved a cinematic identity as:
- The misunderstood hero (Batla House)
- The patriotic planner (Parmanu)
- The lone wolf on a mission (RAW, Madras Cafe)
- The vigilante justice machine (Satyameva Jayate)
That combo: brawn + brain + Bharat is what makes him the guy to headline Tehran.
Conclusion
These films aren’t just action-packed thrillers- they reflect evolving narratives of modern-day Indian patriotism. From emotional realism in Madras Cafe to the explosive vigilante route in Satyameva Jayate, John has built a filmography that feels tailor-made for Independence Day marathons and Republic Day reruns.
If upcoming action thrillers of 2025 are anything like Tehran, we’re in for a powerful ride. But until then, this list should keep the adrenaline pumping and the deshbhakti burning.
FAQs
A1. While there’s no official confirmation, Tehran is rumored to be inspired by actual geopolitical conflicts involving India and Iran. The film may highlight Indian covert intelligence operations.
A2. Tehran is a political-action thriller. Expect espionage, international diplomacy, and undercover missions – much like Madras Cafe or Romeo Akbar Walter.
A3. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran and Madras Cafe are often considered the most patriotic. Parmanu is based on India’s nuclear test, while Madras Cafe tackles RAW operations during the Sri Lankan civil war.
A4. While the full plot is under wraps, it’s expected that John will portray either a covert intelligence officer or a military operative dealing with international threats.
A5. Tehran is set for release on OTT platform ZEE5 on 14th August.
A6. John’s intense screen presence, physicality, and his ability to portray restrained emotion make him ideal for roles involving national duty. He’s become Bollywood’s poster boy for patriotism through films like Batla House, RAW, and Parmanu.
A7. Many of them are! Batla House, Parmanu, and Madras Cafe are inspired by real incidents. He often chooses scripts with strong national relevance.
A8. From what’s been teased so far, yes. Tehran appears to carry the same geopolitical DNA – with real-world stakes, intelligence ops, and a tense global backdrop.
A9. Besides Tehran, John is reportedly working on more action-thrillers and possibly entering the web-series space. He’s also producing films under his banner, JA Entertainment.
