2018 · Film
Raazi
Meghna Gulzar's spy thriller, adapted from Harinder Sikka's novel Calling Sehmat, about a young Indian woman who marries into a Pakistani army family to gather intelligence before the 1971 war.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Raazi is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
In 1971, Hidayat Khan, an Indian agent who poses as an informant for the Pakistani military, learns he is seriously ill. He asks his 20-year-old daughter Sehmat, a Delhi University student, to take his place. After hurried training under RAW officer Khalid Mir, she marries Iqbal, the younger son of a Pakistani brigadier, and moves into the family's home in Rawalpindi. Living among people who treat her kindly, Sehmat must gather military secrets while staying above suspicion.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
A strong pick for viewers who prefer quiet, tense espionage over big action, and for anyone interested in stories set around the 1971 war. It is rated U/A and has some violent moments, but it suits teens and adults watching together.
tenseemotionalthought-provoking
Genres:ThrillerTrue storiesWar and patriotic
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Raazi is adapted from Harinder Sikka's 2008 novel Calling Sehmat, which is presented as the account of a real Indian woman who spied in Pakistan before the India-Pakistan war of 1971. Junglee Pictures and Dharma Productions produced it, and it was shot in 2017 in Mumbai, Punjab and Kashmir. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy composed the music, with lyrics by Gulzar, the director's father.
The film opened on 11 May 2018. Made for a reported ₹35-40 crore, it grossed about ₹196-207 crore worldwide according to Wikipedia, which notes it was the second female-led film to net more than ₹100 crore in India, after Tanu Weds Manu Returns. At the 64th Filmfare Awards it received 15 nominations and won five, tying with Andhadhun for the most, including Best Film, Best Director for Meghna Gulzar and Best Actress for Alia Bhatt.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Spy thriller, Period drama
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Certificate
- U/A
- Director
- Meghna Gulzar
- Cast
- Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, Jaideep Ahlawat
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Raazi in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Raazi is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Raazi in Hindi?
- Yes. Raazi is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Raazi suitable for children?
- Raazi has a CBFC U/A certificate, which means children under 12 should watch with a parent or guardian.
- How long is Raazi?
- Raazi runs for 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).