Romeo Akbar Walter

In November 1971, a man is subjected to third-degree torture in an ISI detention cell in Karachi, signaling the brutal realities of the undercover war. The scene establishes the stakes and secrecy surrounding the protagonist. The film then flashes back nine months to recount how he came to this moment.

Shrikant Rai, RAW's chief, recruits Rehamatullah Ali, alias Romeo, after he foils a bank robbery staged to test his skills. The recruitment marks the transition from civilian to undercover operative. He begins training in combat and covert communication for a mission in Pakistan.

Romeo undergoes rigorous training in combat and covert communication techniques. The program equips him with the skills needed to operate behind enemy lines and gather intelligence. The training culminates in a deployment plan toward Pakistan.

After training, Romeo departs to Pakistan and adopts the alias Akbar Malik. His cover requires him to blend into Pakistani society and establish contacts with local networks. The mission marks his transition from trainee to field operative.

In Pakistan, Akbar is aided by Joker and Mudassar, locals who support RAW operatives. He grows closer to Isaq Afridi, whose trust deepens as Akbar demonstrates his anti-India stance and even saves Afridi from an attack. The relationship tightens Akbar's cover within Pakistan.

Akbar informs RAW of a planned attack on Badlipur that would claim innocent lives in both India and East Pakistan. RAW uses the intelligence to sharpen the mission and keep Akbar integrated into operations. The information also heightens the tension around Afridi's network.

During a rendezvous, Nawab Afridi offers Akbar a chance to work for him, but Akbar refuses to betray Afridi. On leaving, Nawab forgets an envelope and asks Akbar to deliver it to a described room. There, Akbar is stunned to find his girlfriend Shraddha Sharma waiting and learns the room is bugged.

Shraddha Sharma reveals she is also working for RAW and was sent to be close to Akbar to facilitate the mission. The disclosure ties personal loyalty to political espionage and deepens the moral stakes for Akbar. Her dual allegiance becomes a key pressure point for the plot.

Colonel Khan grows suspicious of Akbar, arrests him, and tortures him in an attempt to extract information. He is ultimately forced to release Akbar because Akbar is Afridi's trusted ally. The close call heightens the sense that Akbar's cover could unravel at any moment.

Akbar's cover is blown and he escapes, returning home to Mudassar, who urges him to flee. While waiting, Akbar senses a hidden presence and shoots, only to discover it is Mudassar. Weeping, he recalls Mudassar's warning about entangling personal ties and decides to press on.

The next day, Akbar, disguised as an army captain, contacts Shrikant for help. Shrikant bluntly tells him he’s not acting Indian anymore, underscoring the rift between loyalty to country and undercover work. The confrontation sharpens the sense that Akbar’s loyalties are torn between two nations.

Shraddha and other RAW agents are arrested, and Joker commits suicide. Akbar then meets the army officer who interrogated him and learns the truth that clarifies his mission. He resolves to strike back at RAW by carrying out the Badlipur attacks himself, with Colonel Khan accompanying to prevent double-cross.

Akbar bombs Badlipur in a coordinated assault, triggering the Indo-Pakistani War. It is stated that villagers had been warned 24 hours earlier and evacuated, so there are no civilian deaths. The operation successfully destabilizes the region and escalates the conflict.

In Nepal, ten years after the bombing, Akbar is revealed to be Walter Khan, a Pakistani officer who remains covertly loyal to India. He meets Shrikant and Awasthi, exchanges a few words, and then departs. The sequence culminates in a final shot that ties his lifelong loyalty to the Indian cause with a quiet farewell.