Romeo Akbar Walter

Romeo Akbar Walter
Poster
Directed by	Robbie Grewal
Written by	Robbie Grewal Ishraq Eba Shreyansh Pandey
Produced by	Dheeraj Wadhawan Ajay Kapoor Vanessa Walia Gary Grewal Ajit Andhare
Starring	John Abraham Mouni Roy Jackie Shroff Sikandar Kher
Cinematography	Tapan Tushar Basu
Edited by	Hemal Kothari
Music by	Score: Amar Mohile Hitesh Sonik Rochak Kohli Clinton Cerejo Songs: Ankit Tiwari Sohail Sen Shabbir Ahmed Raaj Aashoo
Production companies	VA Film Company Viacom18 Motion Pictures Kyta Productions Red Ice Productions
Release date	5 April 2019(2019-04-05)
Running time	139 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	₹35 crore
Box office	est.₹53.48 crore

Romeo Akbar Walter(RAW;alluding to theResearch and Analysis Wing) is a 2019 IndianHindi-languageaction thriller filmwritten and directed by Robbie Grewal. It starsJohn Abraham,Mouni Roy,Jackie ShroffandSikandar Kher.The narrative centers on a banker who is recruited as a spy for theResearch and Analysis Wing(R&AW or RAW) for an undercover operation in Pakistan, where he faces both physical and emotional challenges. The film was inspired by the life of Indian spyRavindra Kaushikand theatrically released on 5 April 2019.

Plot

In November 1971, atISIdetention cell,Karachi,a man is being given the 3rd degree of torture. The movie then goes 9 months back.

In 1971, Shrikant Rai, the Chief of theRAWrecruits Rehamatullah Ali a.k.a. Romeo, a banker, after he manages to foil a bank robbery staged by the RAW agents to test his skills forespionagein Pakistan. After training in combat and covert communication techniques, he departs to Pakistan.

In Pakistan, he becomes Akbar Malik, and in his operations is helped by Joker and Mudassar, Pakistani locals helping RAW. Planned circumstances bring him closer to the target Isaq Afridi (Anil George), whose trust in him strengthens when Akbar not only assures him of his hatred towards India but also saves him from an attack conducted by the henchmen of Nawab Afridi. Akbar informs RAW about a planned attack on Badlipur that would claim innocent lives, both in India andEast Pakistan.However, relations between Afridi and Akbar also intensify, due to which he refuses to betray him when Nawab approaches him with an offer to work for him. However, while leaving the rendezvous, Nawab forgets an envelope and asks Akbar to deliver it to the described room number. He is surprised to find his girlfriend Shraddha Sharma there and exclaims "You?" in disbelief. She gestures him to keep quiet and opens up a telephone receiver to show a spy transmitter inside it, proving that her room was bugged. She reveals that she, too was working for the RAW and was sent there because Akbar wanted someone close to be sent for him.

Meanwhile, Colonel Khan's suspicion grows on Akbar, whom he arrests, interrogates, and tortures when he isn't able to extract any information. He is forced to free due to Akbar being Afridi's right hand. However, Akbar's cover soon gets blown, resulting in a chase between him and the colonel. Akbar manages to escape and arrives at home to find Mudassar telling him to escape. Akbar explains that there's no way to escape, due to which Mudassar agrees and goes to prepare tea for him. While waiting, Akbar suspects someone's presence. Hearing a gun click, he takes out the gun given to him by Mudassar for emergencies, and shoots the person, only to realise it was no one else but Mudassar. Weeping but also remembering the latter's words warning him not to get entangled in relations, he escapes from the scene and the next day, disguised as an army captain, contacts Shrikant for help. The latter declines, telling him that he's not acting like an Indian any more. In the meanwhile, Shraddha and some other RAW agents are arrested while Joker commits suicide. Akbar then meets the army officer who interrogated him and his senior, revealing the truth. He decides to conduct the attacks on Badlipur himself as a form of revenge on the RAW. Accompanied by colonel Khan to avoid any sort of double-crossing, Akbar shocks him by bombing the entire village in a series of explosions, thus confirming his loyalty to Pakistan.

As a result, theIndo-Pakistani Warbreaks out. Akbar, now a Pakistani officer called Walter Khan, meets Shrikant and Awasthi in Nepal after 10 years. He departs after exchanging a few words and congratulating Awasthi for his impending promotion, leaving the latter surprised. Shrikant then reveals that Walter's still working undercover for India and how the latter's siding with Pakistan was all part of the plan. The bombing didn't cause any deaths as the villagers, as under the pretext of warning about bad weather conditions, they were moved out 24 hours before it took place. Shrikant also reveals Walter's loyalty towards work was the only reason he couldn't turn up even at his mother's funeral. The film ends with a shot of Walter saluting the Indian flag with tears in his eyes.

Cast

• John AbrahamasRehmuthallah "Romeo" Ali aka Akbar Malik aka Walter Khan
• Mouni Royas Parul/Shraddha Sharma
• Jackie Shroffas Shrikant Rai,R&AWchief
• Rajesh Shringarpureas Prasoon Awasthi,R&AWdeputy chief and promoted as its chief at the end of the movie
• Raghubir Yadavas Mudassar
• Mushtaq Kakas Joker
• Anil George as Isaq Afridi
• Sikandar Kheras Colonel Khan
• Suchitra Krishnamoorthias Rehana Kazmi
• Purnendu Bhattacharya as General Jahangir Alam,Chief of Army Staff
• Gyanendra Tripathi as Captain Adil
• Sharat Sonu as Robber 1
• Alka Aminas Waheeda, Rehamatullah's mother
• Vikram Dahiya as Krav Maga Trainer
• Sanjeev Jaiswalas Deewan
• Shivraj Walvekar as Mishra Ji
• Shadaab Khanas Nawab Afridi
• Aashit Chatterjee as Lt. Gen. Ghazi Ali Hayat,Director-General of the ISI
• Tareeq Ahmed Khan as Army Man
• Pawan Kumar Jagoli as Ratan

Production

Initially,Sushant Singh Rajputwas to star in the film as the protagonist, but he had to step down due to date issues and was later replaced byJohn Abraham.

Release

The film was shot on location inJammu and Kashmir,GujaratandNepal;it was initially scheduled to release on 15 March 2019 but then it was pushed back.It was scheduled to release worldwide on 12 April 2019 but later released on 5 April 2019.Eros Internationalwas being distributed in Overseas.

Home media

The film became available asVODonNetflixon 30 June 2019.

Reception

Critical response

the film received mixed reviews from critics Going byRotten Tomatoes,the film has scored 15% based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 4.4/10.Renuka Vyavahare ofTimes Of Indiafinds the climax of the film audacious and gives one and half stars out of five. She concludes, "RAW has its moments but is rough around the edges. The climax is audacious and you need to suspend your belief, if you plan to watch it.""Overall, Romeo Akbar Walter is another interesting film from John Abraham. The movie has enough twists and turns to keep you intrigued and engaged. Go for it." says Gaurang Chauhan ofTimes Nowand gives three stars out of five.Sanyukta Thakare writing forThe Free Press Journalrates the film with one and a half stars out of five and says, "You would expect RAW to be an action-packed film as much as the trailer suggested, but the film is more of a drama web series that documents events one after the other, throwing in unnecessary emotional, romantic and climax more than it is required."Devesh Sharma ofFilmfaregiving 3 stars out of 5 says, "Watching the film is like akin to reading aJohn le Carrénovel. You have one set of mandarins squaring off against the other with pawns being sacrificed for future advantage. "Taran Adarshgives 1.5 stars out of 5 says "Dull. Interesting stories don't necessarily translate into interesting films. Half baked writing + slow pacing play spoilsport. John, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher excel. This thriller lacks thrill and grip."

Box office

Romeo Akbar Waltercollected₹5croreon its opening day pan India. Its opening weekend collection from the domestic market was₹20.85 crore.Its domestic gross was₹45.84 crore and overseas gross₹7.64 crore. It grossed₹53.48 crore worldwide.

Soundtrack

Romeo Akbar Walter
Soundtrack albumby Ankit Tiwari,Sohail Sen,Shabbir AhmedandRaaj Aashoo
Released	5 March 2019
Recorded	2018
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	27:12
Language	Hindi
Label	Junglee Music
Ankit Tiwarichronology
Amavas (2019) Romeo Akbar Walter (2019) Batla House (2019)
Sohail Senchronology
Fraud Saiyaan (2019) Romeo Akbar Walter (2019) Housefull 4 (2019)
Raaj Aashoochronology
Hum Chaar (2019) Romeo Akbar Walter (2019)

The music of the film is composed byAnkit Tiwari,Sohail Sen,Shabbir AhmedandRaaj Aashoowhile the lyrics are penned by Shabbir Ahmed, Murli Agarwal,Prince Dubeyand Ashok Punjabi. Song "Jee Len De"Atif AslamVersion is Released in 26 May 2021 On YouTubeTimes MusicOfficial Channel.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Vande Mataram"	Shabbir Ahmed	Shabbir Ahmed	Sonu Nigam,Ekta Ajay Kapoor	4:57
2.	"Bulleya"	Ashok Punjabi	Sohail Sen	Rabbi Shergill,Shahid Mallya	4:25
3.	"Jee Len De"	Murli Agarwal	Raaj Aashoo	Mohit Chauhan	4:37
4.	"Allah Hoo Allah"	Shabbir Ahmed	Shabbir Ahmed	Sameer Khan, Maneesh Singh, Shreyas Puranik, Jay Mehta, Mayur Sakhare, Tejas Mahure	6:37
5.	"Maa"	Prince Dubey	Ankit Tiwari	Ankit Tiwari	3:19
6.	"Jee Len De (Atif Version)"	Murli Agarwal	Raaj Aashoo	Atif Aslam	4:37
Total length:					27:12

External links

• Romeo Akbar WalteratIMDb
• Romeo Akbar WalteratBox Office Mojo
• Romeo Akbar WalteratBollywood Hungama
• Romeo Akbar WalteratRotten Tomatoes