In the geopolitical action thriller Tehran, starring John Abraham and Manushi Chhillar, director Arun Gopalan has revealed that Chhillar's role was trimmed to maintain the film's pace.
Tehran, inspired by true events surrounding the conflict between Israel and Iran, features John Abraham as ACP Rajiv Kumar, an officer caught between duty and conscience as he navigates international espionage and political tensions. Manushi Chhillar plays S.I. Divya Rana, a brave and determined officer committed to her duties. The film follows ACP Rajiv Kumar on a mission that blurs the lines between patriotism and rebellion.
According to Gopalan, the decision to trim Manushi Chhillar's scenes was made to ensure a crisp narrative. While Chhillar was initially cast in a significant role, the final edit focused on streamlining the story. Gopalan emphasized that these adjustments were in service of the film's overall impact.
Tehran premiered on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025, and was released on Netflix on August 27, 2025. The film also stars Neeru Bajwa as Sheilaja, a morally strong figure standing for her beliefs. The cast includes Madhurima Tuli as Vandana, Rajeev Kumar's wife, Alyy Khan as Neeraj, and Elnaaz Norouzi as Layla, among others.
Manushi Chhillar had expressed excitement about being part of Tehran, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase a new avatar and grow as an actor. She acknowledged the support of producer Dinesh Vijan and the positive response to her first look in the film.
The film is directed by Arun Gopalan and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Shobhna Yadav, and Sandeep Leyzell. The screenplay is written by Ritesh Shah and Ashish Prakash Verma. Tehran was filmed in various locations, including Tehran, Glasgow, Mumbai, and Delhi.