John Abraham’s The Diplomat Hooks Audiences But Faces OTT Rejections

Mumbai, 21st March 2025: John Abraham’s latest thriller, The Diplomat, which hit theaters during Holi, is making waves at the box office. Despite facing competition from Vicky Kaushal’s Chhava, the film has maintained a strong hold in its second week. However, what many don’t know is that The Diplomat was rejected by multiple OTT platforms before its release.

In today’s industry, filmmakers often secure OTT deals in advance to mitigate financial risks, ensuring profits even if a film underperforms in theaters. Surprisingly, John Abraham recently revealed that several streaming platforms turned down the film before its release, leaving it without a digital release option despite its box office success.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, John Abraham spoke about the challenges the film faced before hitting theaters. He said, “When a studio watches a film, it usually sends it to OTT to minimize risk. However, some OTT platforms rejected The Diplomat because they didn’t like it much. They simply turned it down.”

A Gripping Story with a Strong Cast
The Diplomat tells the compelling story of an Indian diplomat on a mission to rescue an Indian girl from Pakistan. Directed by Shivam Nair, the film stars John Abraham, Sadia, Jagjit Sandhu, and Prapti Shukla in pivotal roles. Packed with tension, drama, and high stakes, the film delivers an emotional yet thrilling experience for audiences.

Box Office Performance
According to reports, The Diplomat was made on a modest budget of ₹20 crore and is on track to recover its costs within 10 days.

Earnings So Far:
Day 1 – ₹4 crore
Day 2 – ₹4.65 crore
Day 3 – ₹4.65 crore
Day 4 – ₹1.5 crore
Day 5 – ₹1.45 crore
Day 6 – ₹1.5 crore
Day 7 – ₹1.35 crore
With consistent earnings, the film is inching closer to profitability, proving that a strong storyline and powerful performances can make a movie a hit—even without an OTT deal.

A Theatrical Success Without Streaming Support
Despite not securing an OTT release, The Diplomat has resonated with moviegoers and is emerging as one of the year’s most talked-about thrillers. Whether or not it finds a streaming home, the film has already won the hearts of audiences and reinforced John Abraham’s reputation as a bankable action star.