CBFC Clears John Abraham’s The Diplomat with Disclaimer Requirement: Report

Ziya Khan 1 week agoLast Updated: March 12, 2025

As The Diplomat, starring John Abraham, approaches its release on March 14, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted clearance with a specific condition. The filmmakers are required to include a disclaimer emphasizing the importance of maintaining good relations with neighboring countries. Directed by Shivam Nair, this political thriller draws inspiration from the 2017 repatriation of Uzma Ahmed. The CBFC’s decision followed a screening of the film for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the first week of March. The certification, issued on March 6, also involved minor edits to certain scenes and dialogues.

MEA Screening and CBFC’s Directive

According to a report by Mid-Day, the MEA’s review aimed to ensure that the film’s narrative would not adversely affect India’s diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Following the screening, the CBFC mandated a visual and audio disclaimer clarifying that the movie, although inspired by real events, is a dramatized portrayal that does not reflect the official stance of the Indian government. This disclaimer was deemed essential due to the film’s politically sensitive setting in Pakistan. A source stated, “Considering the film is centered on international diplomacy, a disclaimer was necessary to underline that while inspired by real events, the geopolitical representation is fictionalized. Given the sensitivities of India-Pakistan relations, this step was crucial.”

Real Names Retained, Minor Edits Implemented

Despite the disclaimer requirement, the CBFC permitted the use of real names in the narrative. This includes Uzma Ahmed’s name for Sadia Khateeb’s character, as well as mentions of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, diplomat JP Singh (played by Abraham), and Prashant Jadhav. The certification process also necessitated slight modifications—a violent scene involving a young boy killing a woman was trimmed, and an expletive was muted.

The Diplomat: A Political Thriller Based on True Events

The Diplomat centers around the true story of Uzma Ahmed, who escaped from her husband’s home in Pakistan in May 2017 and sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Islamabad, claiming she was forced into marriage. John Abraham portrays Indian diplomat JP Singh, who facilitated her repatriation. Produced by Abraham in partnership with T-Series, the film aims to shed light on the complexities of international diplomacy while delivering a compelling narrative. With the CBFC’s clearance and disclaimer in place, The Diplomat is set to release as scheduled on March 14.