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Tehran was expected to hit theaters, but a few weeks ago, the makers confirmed that the film will have a direct OTT release. Tehran will be released on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) on August 14, 2025. Starring John Abraham in the lead role, the film is a geopolitical action thriller. Ahead of the release, John shared why the film is special to him and also recalled his first impression after reading the script.
John Abraham on Tehran script
Speaking to India Today, John Abraham shared that Tehran holds a special place in his heart and revealed his connection with Iran and the Farsi language. John said, “This is emotionally the first thing that I’ve done for Tehran. My mother is Iranian, and the script was very close to my heart. My mother, of course, speaks Farsi. That’s the national language of Iran. I could barely understand a few words here and there, because when you’re growing up, your mother speaks to you a little in Farsi, a bit of Dari just mixes up words and stuff like that.”
As he wanted to portray his character with cultural authenticity, John decided to learn Persian from the star.. He said that he wanted to learn Farsi, so he learned Farsi for six months in Tehran. He wanted to get the dialect right and didn’t want to go wrong on anything. He also learned Hebrew. “But you don’t learn it just to prove a point. It has to flow into the script, and it has to come very easily on your tongue,” he said.
John Abraham in Tehran
John Abraham on his mom being Irani
John said that he had a natural advantage as his mother is an Irani. For him, it was easier on his tongue. “So I’d probably get that benefit that I kind of rolled over onto the film. But it was a beautiful process,” he added.
Tehran is a geopolitical action thriller starring John Abraham and Manushi Chhillar. Directed by Arun Gopalan, it also stars Neeru Bajwa. The film is produced by Maddock Films. Inspired by true events, this film sheds light on the world of espionage and international politics, particularly the conflict between Iran and Israel.
In Tehran, Abraham plays ACP Rajiv Kumar, who is caught between duty and conscience in a mission that blurs the lines of patriotism and rebellion. The movie is set to premiere directly on ZEE5, accessible via OTTplay Premium on August 14.
Q: Where can I watch John Abraham’s Tehran?A: Tehran, the geopolitical action thriller starring John Abraham, is slated for a digital release on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium). It will be released on August 14, 2025.Q: Is Tehran a movie or a series?A: John Abraham’s Tehran is a movie based on real-life incidents.Q: Why is the Tehran movie not released?A: Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, John Abraham said that it faced a delay because of the conflicts and controversies that are happening internationally. The actor added, “Theatres were a little wary of picking up a film that had Iran and Israel in it. We had a choice of either showing the film somewhere or not showing it at all.”Q: Is John Abraham a Hindu?A: His father is a Syrian Christian from Kerala and his mother is a Zoroastrian Irani. Abraham’s Zoroastrian name is “Farhan”, but he was baptised with the name “John.” He considers himself a spiritual person but does not follow any particular religion.