Adapted from Nitin Gokhale’s book Gentleman Spymaster, the project is slated to hit theatres on August 11, 2028, aligning with the Independence Day weekend. The narrative will span from 1955 to 1971, detailing the events that necessitated the creation of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and culminated in India’s victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan. Six years after its initial announcement, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, in collaboration with Leo Media Collective, has formally greenlit a large-scale espionage actioner based on the life of legendary spymaster Rameshwar Nath Kao.
The upcoming film adaptation is scheduled to begin principal photography by mid-2026. production sources confirm that a leading Bollywood A-lister will play the titular role While the director and central cast remain under wraps. In an official statement, Karan Johar stated, “Leo Media has painstakingly been researching and dramatising this narrative with passion for the past two years. We want this film to be a gripping story based on true facts to pay homage to R&AW and honour their milestone year with a solid motion picture; all of us at Dharma are so excited to get going.”
