EXCLUSIVE: Tehran Director Arun Gopalan Recalls Sweet Gesture Of Afghan And Arab Strangers While Shooting John Abraham Starrer In Glasgow

During an exclusive chat, Tehran director Arun Gopalan got candid about what the John Abraham starrer is all about and a wholesome moment the crew experienced while shooting the film in Glasgow. Read on

Arun Gopalan: Tehran Is A Tribute To Cops, Diplomats & Agents

When asked what lies at the emotional core of Tehran and what viewers are likely to take home with them beyond the film’s thrill factor, Arun Gopalan said, “At its heart, Tehran is a tribute to those who work in silence – the cops, the diplomats, the agents. It’s a thankless job. When they do it right, no one notices. It’s only when something goes wrong that the world feels the vibration of that mistake.”

He continued, “What moved us most in telling this story was not the scale of the conflict, but the quiet resilience of those who carry the weight of it. Tehran is about the people who live in the grey, who sacrifice recognition, comfort, even pieces of themselves, so the rest of us can live our lives in peace – often unaware of what it takes. If that truth lingers with the audience long after the credits roll – beyond the thrill and spectacle – then the film has done what it set out to do.”

Arun Recalls Shooting High-Speed Sequence In Glasgow

During the same conversation, we asked the director to shared one behind-the-scenes story from the shoot that has a special place in his heart. Recalling an adorable, wholesome moment from the film’s shooting schedule in Glasgow, Arun Gopalan said, “Actually, there were many, but one moment that really stayed with me happened during a tense car chase sequence we were filming in Glasgow. The sun was going down, and we had maybe 30 minutes left to wrap the scene – adrenaline was high, pressure was on.”

He continued, “Right next to our location, there was this small workshop where a group of Afghans and Arabs were grilling the most incredible-smelling kebabs. They’d been watching us shoot all day, and just as we were scrambling to get the last shots, they came over – smiling, insisting we share their food. In the middle of this high-stress, high-speed sequence, they brought a kind of warmth and generosity that none of us expected.”

He concluded by adding, “It was such a simple gesture, but in that moment, it cut through everything – the tension, the exhaustion, even the language barriers. It reminded me that no matter how intense the shoot gets, you’re always surrounded by people – not just crew and cast, but strangers who surprise you with kindness. That meal, and the love behind it, was priceless.”

About Tehran

Tehran is an intense Hindi action-thriller starring John Abraham and Manushi Chhillar in lead roles. Inspired by real events and set against the backdrop of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, the movie explores the shifting dynamics of international politics. The film stars John Abraham as ACP Rajeev Kumar, Neeru Bajwa as Sheilaja and Manushi Chhillar as SI Divya Rana. It also features Madhurima Tuli and Elnaaz Norouzi in pivotal roles.

Directed by Arun Gopalan, the film is produced by Dinesh Vijan, Sandeep Leyzell, and Shobhna Yadav. The screenplay has been written by Ritesh Shah and Ashish Prakash Verma. It is set to premiere on ZEE5 on August 14, coinciding with India’s Independence Day.

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Grinell Jacinto

With nearly 10 years of experience, Grinell Esther Jacinto is the Desk Head of Bollywood Bubble. Her interests lie in everything that is kaleshi and she loves to dig deeper into the lives of B-town actors. She has a problem though – she loves horror films but will have chills the minute the theatres lights dims. She’s previously worked with Koimoi, UrbanAsian and SpotboyE.