Raazi, the recent period-thriller by Meghna Gulzar starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, has generally got the thumbs-up for its layered portrayal of an Indian spy married to a Pakistani man during the India-Pakistan war of 1971. And that got us thinking: How do Bolly films on covert missions for one’s country measure up? Here are a few The Woods picks of intrigue and sabotage films.

Naam Shabana (2017)

This spin-off from the 2015 Neeraj Pandey film Baby starring Akshay Kumar provides the backstory of intelligence agent Shabana (played by Tapsee Pannu), and chronicles how she becomes a spy. Shabana, a college student, has a past. The judo fighter, who lives with her mother in Mumbai, had killed her father while trying to save her mother from 
his abuse. After Shabana’s lover Jai is murdered and the police are trying to save the culprits, Shabana gets a call from  a man who says he will give her details of Jai’s killers if she joins a secret force. 

Phantom (2015)

The Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer is a political thriller that unfolds across various countries. Repeated terror attacks on India left Indians vulnerable and angry. The Indian government and security agencies were helpless as the masterminds of the attacks were out of reach. When an infiltrator with plans to attack India is caught, India’s security agency takes matters in its own hands. Daniyal (Saif) and Nawaz (Katrina) are drawn into a battle of wits with a ruthless enemy.

Baby (2015)

The story of an Indian mission to nab a terrorist who is the left-hand man of the main baddie. Crack terror fighter Ajay (Akshay Kumar) discovers a major threat to the country masterminded by a maniacal leader whose organisation has its tentacles spread across the world. Covert operations across Kathmandu, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Delhi and Mumbai follow in the race to stop him. 

D-Day (2013)

Directed by Nikhil Advani, D-Day is about Indian spies infiltrating Pakistan to kill a man code-named Goldman. An undercover Indian agent in Pakistan spies a chance of catching Goldman alive, and three other Indian agents reach Pakistan to get it done. But the plan goes horribly wrong. The film stars Rishi Kapoor as the Goldman, Irrfan Khan, Arjun Rampal and Shruti Haasan.

Madras Café (2013)

Directed by Shoojit Sircar and produced by and starring by John Abraham, Madras Café, set against the backdrop of the civil war in Sri Lanka, is a political drama that was shot like a documentary but never slowed down its narrative. Viewers get to see the complex side of espionage and the best part is the film never takes sides yet manages to showcase the vulnerability and dilemma of the people involved. 

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)

Only Salman Khan can play an Indian spy who falls for a Pakistani spy (Katrina Kaif)! The story takes a gripping, action-packed turn when both countries hunt for the couple who in love on a mission and elope. Eventually the lovebirds get married and give birth to a blockbuster sequel called Tiger Zinda Hain.