To mark 58 years of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) on 21 September 2026, producer Karan Johar announced his next major espionage feature. The untitled biopic centers on Rameshwar Nath Kao, the legendary founder and first chief of India's external intelligence agency.
Jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective, the film is adapted from Nitin Gokhale's non-fiction book R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster. The film is scheduled to hit cinemas worldwide on 11 August 2028, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend and R&AW's 60th anniversary year.
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Theatrical Release: 11 August 2028 (Independence Day Weekend)
Source Material: R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster by Nitin Gokhale
Producers: Karan Johar (Dharma Productions) & Leo Media Collective
Timeline Covered: 1955 to 1971 (Tracing the formation of R&AW and the 1971 War)
R.N. Kao's Legacy: Founder and first Secretary (Research) of R&AW (1968–1977)
Who Was Rameshwar Nath Kao?
1. The Birth of R&AW Out of Crisis
Following critical intelligence gaps exposed during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to split external intelligence gathering away from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). In September 1968, she appointed R.N. Kao to build a dedicated foreign intelligence agency from scratch, creating R&AW.
2. The 'Kaoboys' and the 1971 Liberation of Bangladesh
Kao recruited a specialised handpicked team of officers, affectionately known in intelligence folklore as the "Kaoboys". Under his leadership between 1955 and 1971, R&AW trained and equipped the Mukti Bahini, providing vital intelligence that was pivotal to India's victory in the 1971 War and the creation of Bangladesh.
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3. Clandestine Global Alliances
Kao established early, discreet intelligence partnerships with global agencies, including Israel's Mossad and the CIA under then-director George H.W. Bush. His diplomatic and strategic maneuvers solidified India's external espionage network.
4. Advisor to Prime Ministers
Spanning decades in public service, Kao earned the complete trust of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who assigned him sensitive assignments. He later served as the primary security advisor to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi through major national security developments.
5. A Legacy of Absolute Discretion
Unlike modern pop-culture portrayals of covert operatives, Kao was famous for avoiding publicity and being camera-shy. "He built the invisible... but history remembers his impact," wrote Karan Johar on social media. Kao passed away on 20 January 2002, leaving behind an enduring legacy of professional tradecraft.
FAQs
Q1: What is the release date of Karan Johar's film on R.N. Kao?
A: The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 11 August 2028.
Q2: Which book is the R.N. Kao movie based on?
A: The feature film is based on Nitin Gokhale's biography R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster.