Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective are developing a large-scale espionage biopic on Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founding father of India’s external intelligence agency R&AW. Based on Nitin Gokhale’s book Gentleman Spymaster, the film will trace Kao’s journey from 1955 to 1971, including the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and is slated for an August 11, 2028 theatrical release.
A feature film on Rameshwar Nath Kao, a storied spymaster and the founding father of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, is currently in development. Dharma Productions is teaming with Leo Media Collective for a large-scale theatrical biopic on Kao, who became the first secretary of R&AW following its establishment under the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1968.
The film chronicles Kao's journey from 1955 to 1971, establishing the need for R&AW, leading to the wing's formation and the first-ever mission in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Highly esteemed in the global intelligence community, Kao had a long career in national security and passed away, at 83, in 2002.
Currently in the developmental stages, the yet-untitled film is eyeing a theatrical release on August 11, 2028, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend. The announcement of the film coincides with 58 years since the foundation of R&AW. The 2028 release is also intended to commemorate the agency’s 60-year legacy.
The big-scale espionage film is based on the non-fiction book Gentleman Spymaster by Nitin Gokhale. While cast details are under wraps, an A-list actor is said to headline the film. The project is expected to go on floors this year.
Speaking about the film, producer Karan Johar said, “Leo Media has painstakingly been researching and dramatising this narrative with passion for the past two years, we want this film to be a gripping story based on true facts to pay homage to RAW and honour their milestone year with a solid motion picture … all of us at Dharma are so excited to get going."
A synopsis of Gokhale's book describes Kao as "an intensely private man" and "the classical spymaster who operated in the shadows but built enduring institutions." In addition to R&AW, Kao was instrumental in the founding of the Aviation Research Centre, India's premier technical intelligence agency, and the National Security Guard (NSG).
A fictionalised version of RN Kao, played by Rajat Kapoor, appeared in the 2025 Netflix series Saare Jahan Se Accha.