Actor John Abraham recently shared his thoughts on how OTT platforms dismissed his latest film, The Diplomat, deeming it unworthy for their platforms. Speaking with Pinkvilla, John revealed that multiple streaming services rejected the film, as they “didn’t find it great.” However, he sees this as an underdog story, as the film has managed to exceed expectations.
OTT Platforms Rejected The Diplomat
Discussing the industry’s approach to films like The Diplomat, John explained that studios often try to minimize financial risks by pitching films to OTT platforms before theatrical releases. In this case, streaming platforms were not impressed. “The studio wanted to reduce risk by offering it to OTT channels, but many of them refused The Diplomat outright. They didn’t think it was good enough. They rejected it completely,” John said.
Proving the Doubters Wrong
Despite the initial rejection, John believes the film has defied expectations. He highlighted how audiences have responded positively, challenging the industry’s judgment. “With The Diplomat, we proved the studios and OTTs wrong. The best part about this film was that people had zero expectations. But instead of moving from a zero to a two or three, we went straight to a 10. That’s why people are calling it ‘crazy good,’” he shared.
John also mentioned how viewers have personally praised him for the film. “People have told me, ‘Does the studio even realize they have one of the best films of the last decade under their banner?’ That, for me, is a real victory,” he added.
About The Diplomat
Directed by Shivam Nair, The Diplomat is inspired by real-life events and features John Abraham as diplomat JP Singh. The film also stars Sadia Khateeb and is produced under John’s JA Entertainment, in collaboration with T-Series, Vipul D Shah, Ashwin Varde, Rajesh Bahl (Wakaoo Films), Sameer Dixit, Jatish Varma (Fortune Pictures), and Rakesh Dang (Seeta Films).
Released in theaters on March 14, The Diplomat has so far earned ₹19.10 crore nett, according to Sacnilk.com. While the box office performance has seen fluctuations, the film continues to find appreciation among viewers.
