Before The Diplomat OTT release, stream 7 films and shows by director Shivam Nair

Now is a good time to look at the intriguing filmography of The Diplomat filmmaker Shivam Nair while we wait for May 9, 2025, to arrive, when the film will debut on Netflix. In his many thrillers and spy dramas, Nair has become famous for weaving together stories about individuals’ difficulties with larger social and political issues.

Shivam Nair films and series to watch on OTT

Directed by Shivam Nair, Ahista Ahista is a romance drama written by Imtiaz Ali. The film, which stars Abhay Deol and Soha Ali Khan, follows a young man who makes a fortune as a witness to court marriages and a woman whose lover abandons her when she runs away. Set against the tumultuous background of Delhi, a delicate and subdued romance evolves. Reflecting Nair’s talent for telling emotionally charged human situations, the film subtly probes concepts of identity, personal agency, and second chances. Ahista Ahista launched Nair’s varied directing career, which would go on to include thrillers and spy dramas.

When he directed Maharathi, Nair moved into the suspense thriller territory. Paresh Rawal, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and Neha Dhupia are among the ensemble cast members in this adaptation of a Gujarati drama written by Uttam Gada. In the middle of a tight power struggle over a rich man’s inheritance, the story revolves around a struggling driver who becomes entangled in a strange death. Maharathi demonstrated Nair’s increasing command of psychological intrigue and multi-layered narrative with its incisive dialogues, tense atmosphere, and people with conflicting moral stances.

Bhaag Johnny (2015) – JioHotstar

The story structure of Shivam Nair’s Bhaag Johnny was more experimental than his previous works. In the film, Kunal Kemmu plays the role of somebody torn between two lives, one in which he murders someone and another in which he doesn’t. In this supernatural thriller, which combines elements of action and alternate reality storytelling, Zoa Morani and Mandana Karimi feature. Despite the film’s mixed reviews, it showcases Nair’s fearless exploration of genre-blending storytelling and his skill with narrative timelines.

The prequel spin-off Naam Shabana to the smash blockbuster Baby was a giant triumph for Nair’s career. The film follows the story of Shabana Khan, played by Taapsee Pannu, as she goes from being a regular college student to being an undercover intelligence operative after suffering a personal tragedy. While Nair deftly navigated the film’s emotional depth and high-stakes espionage, Pannu’s portrayal and the action scenes garnered accolades. With appearances from Akshay Kumar and a tightly wound plot, Naam Shabana solidified Nair’s reputation as a filmmaker capable of directing massive action dramas with profound emotional weight.

Special OPS (2020) – JioHotstar

Special OPS was a landmark in the Indian web series scene, and it was Shivam Nair and Neeraj Pandey’s first venture into long-form storytelling. In the show, veteran RAW agent Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon) investigates a string of terror strikes in India in search of the elusive plotter. This expansive spy thriller, directed in numerous episodes by Nair, garnered critical praise for its meticulously researched plot, internationally spanning action, and stellar acting. Thanks to the show’s success, Nair was able to reimagine Indian espionage dramas for digital platforms with a second season Special OPS 1.5.

A slow-burn espionage thriller co-directed by Shivam Nair and Jayprad Desai, Mukhbir is based on actual events from the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict. Zain Khan Durrani plays the lead role of a young Indian spy who breaks into Pakistan and provides vital information in the series. The series was well-received by critics for its sophisticated style, grounded production values, and adult narrative. In this suspenseful thriller, Nair delves into themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity while displaying the psychological burden of covert life.

The Diplomat is based on the true story of how Indian national Uzma Ahmed was rescued from Pakistan. The political thriller, which stars John Abraham as Indian diplomat J.P. Singh, dramatises the emotional and diplomatic efforts that led to Uzma’s return to India from Pakistan after she was forcibly married. Critical acclaim for the film’s riveting portrayal of backchannel diplomacy and its captivating performances preceded its March 14, 2025, theatrical debut. Premiering on Netflix on May 9, 2025, The Diplomat is the next instalment in Nair’s body of work, which features suspenseful thrillers grounded in human emotions and grounded in geopolitical reality.