Karan Johar Announces Biopic on R&AW Founder R.N. Kao for August 2028 Release
On September 21, 2026—marking the 58th anniversary of the establishment of India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)—filmmaker Karan Johar and Dharma Productions announced a major theatrical feature film on R&AW founder Rameshwar Nath Kao. Produced in collaboration with Leo Media Collective, the espionage drama is based on journalist Nitin Gokhale's 2019 book, 'R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster'.
The film will chronicle Kao's journey between 1955 and 1971, detailing the necessity for an external intelligence agency, the formation of R&AW in 1968, and its first covert mission during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The makers have scheduled the untitled project for a nationwide release on August 11, 2028, aligning with the Independence Day holiday weekend and R&AW's 60th anniversary.
Speaking about the project, Johar highlighted that extensive research and script dramatisation have been ongoing for the past two years to deliver a realistic and engaging narrative. While the director and lead cast remain under wraps, filming is set to begin by mid-2026, with an A-list Bollywood actor expected to star as the legendary spymaster.
