R&AW Founder Biopic
Dharma Productions plans a theatrical biopic about R&AW founder Rameshwar Nath Kao.
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Key Points
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Rameshwar Nath Kao led R&AW from its establishment in 1968 until 1977, overseeing the agency’s formative years and several major operations of the 1970s.
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Before founding R&AW, Kao served in India’s Intelligence Bureau, was part of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s security detail, helped establish the Aviation Research Centre and was associated with the Joint Intelligence Committee.
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Karan Johar described Kao as the man who “operated in the shadows” and said the film would focus on the agency’s first mission, underscoring the subject’s deliberately low-profile nature.
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R&AW was created to consolidate India’s foreign-intelligence operations, which had previously been handled by the Intelligence Bureau.
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The project reunites Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective after their collaborations on Bad Newz (2024) and Kesari: Chapter 2 (2025); Variety also reported that the film was initially announced in early 2020.
Karan Johar's Dharma Productions is making a major film about Rameshwar Nath Kao, the man who founded and led India's external intelligence agency, R&AW. News18 reported the announcement came on September 21, marking 58 years since R&AW was created in 1968. The movie is scheduled to release on August 11, 2028, timed with India's Independence Day weekend.
The untitled espionage drama will be based on Nitin Gokhale's book "Gentleman Spymaster" and trace Kao's intelligence career and R&AW's first major operation during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Hindustan Times noted that Dharma Productions is partnering with Leo Media Collective on the project, which is still in development. The director and cast have not yet been announced, though an A-list actor is expected to lead.
A Spy Chief Who Operated in the Shadows
Rameshwar Nath Kao led R&AW from 1968 to 1977, overseeing the agency's formative years and key operations during the 1970s. Times of India reported that before founding R&AW, Kao worked in India's Intelligence Bureau, served on Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's security detail, and helped establish the Aviation Research Centre. He also worked with the Joint Intelligence Committee, building a career hidden from public view.
Karan Johar described Kao as the man who "operated in the shadows," emphasizing the intelligence chief's deliberately low-profile nature. News18 noted that the film will spotlight R&AW's creation and its first major mission, shedding light on a figure most Indians have never heard of despite his crucial role in India's national security.
Why R&AW Was Created and What It Changed
Before 1968, India's foreign-intelligence operations were scattered across different agencies, primarily the Intelligence Bureau. ANI News reported that R&AW was established to consolidate these operations under a single organization focused specifically on external intelligence gathering. This restructuring reflected India's need for a dedicated spy agency as the nation navigated Cold War geopolitics and regional conflicts.
The creation of R&AW proved timely. Within three years of Kao taking charge, India fought the 1971 war with Pakistan over Bangladesh's independence. Hindustan Times confirmed that the film will showcase R&AW's role in that conflict, marking the agency's first major test and cementing its importance to Indian national defense.
Dharma and Leo Media's Second Major Collaboration
This project reunites Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective after earlier successes together. News18 noted the two companies previously collaborated on "Bad Newz" (2024) and "Kesari: Chapter 2" (2025), building a track record on ambitious, large-scale films. The partnership suggests both companies see Kao's story as a prestige project worth their combined resources and expertise.
The 2028 release date gives the production team nearly four years to develop the script, secure an A-list lead actor, and handle the complex logistics of an espionage period drama. Hindustan Times reported that the film was initially announced back in early 2020, so this official confirmation represents a significant revival and recommitment to bringing Kao's legacy to the screen.
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