Former RAW Chief dismisses 'Pathaan' & 'Ek Tha Tiger' as unrealistic; demands better spy movies

Months have passed since the highly anticipated release of Pathaan, which has taken the title of the year's biggest blockbuster thus far. However, former RAW Chief Vikram Sood has expressed his disinterest in wasting his time watching the film. During a discussion about spy movies in Bollywood, Sood emphasized the importance of blending fun and realism in such films. 

In a recent interview on The Ranveer Show, a clip of which gained popularity on Reddit, Vikram Sood expressed his disappointment with movies like Pathaan, stating, "I don't think we have mastered the art of creating realistic spy films yet. They have the potential to be better and more realistic." 

When asked to elaborate on his criticism of the lack of realism, he humorously responded, "When you try to make a James Bond movie, it's already unrealistic. Then you have this story of an ISI girl and and RAW man living happily ever after... come on, take a break (laughs). The entire atmosphere... I haven't watched Pathaan, and I don't plan to because I believe it doesn't provide an accurate depiction. Why waste my time?" Sood did admit to watching Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif's 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger, stating, "I laughed and enjoyed it because it had a quaint charm, not because it portrayed anything realistic."

Interestingly, he couldn't recall the name of Salman's other blockbuster, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, but reminisced about the film's premise, saying, "Salman Khan going through a tunnel to Pakistan to reunite a girl left behind in India. It was alright, my friend. A bit exaggerated... Entertainment should be enjoyable and realistic." Meanwhile, the film industry continues to churn out one spy movie after another, accompanied by numerous web series. Salman Khan is all set to return with Tiger 3 later this year, while Shah Rukh Khan will once again grace the screen with Jawan in September.