Who Was RN Kao? Know About India’s First RAW Chief As Karan Johar Prepares for Biopic
Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective have officially announced a major feature film chronicling the life of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the legendary founding chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). It is adapted from Nitin Gokhale's book 'RN Kao: Gentleman Spymaster'.
Factual history meets mainstream cinema as the story of India's most legendary spymaster prepares to hit the big screen. Filmmaker Karan Johar, in collaboration with Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective, has formally announced a major theatrical feature exploring the life and career of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founding chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Karan Johar Announces Film on R&AW Founder RN Kao, Sets Release for August 2028.
Scheduled for release on August 11, 2028, to coincide with India's Independence Day weekend, the film draws from journalist Nitin Gokhale’s biographical book RN Kao: Gentleman Spymaster. The narrative chronicles the geopolitical shifts between 1955 and 1971 that established the necessity for a dedicated external intelligence agency, culminating in R&AW's crucial role during the 1971 war.
Karan Johar to Back Biopic on R&AW Founder
The announcement was timed with the 58th anniversary of R&AW's establishment, serving as a prelude to the agency's upcoming 60-year legacy milestone in 2028. Co-produced alongside Leo Media Collective, the project has been in active research and development for two years. Principal photography is slated to begin by mid-2026, with an A-list lead actor expected to be cast in the titular role. Johar noted that the team aims to deliver a true-to-fact narrative honouring the agency's history.
The upcoming film represents another addition to Dharma Productions' growing list of real-life military and intelligence-focused features.
Who is RN Kao?
Rameshwar Nath Kao, widely regarded as the architect of modern Indian intelligence, served as the first chief (designated as Secretary) of R&AW from 1968 to 1977. Known for operating quietly out of the public eye, Kao earned international respect for his professional standards and strategic vision. He was named among the leading global intelligence directors of his era by international peers, leaving a lasting impact on security strategy across the Indian subcontinent.
Early Life and Police Service
Born on May 10, 1918, in Benares (now Varanasi) into a Kashmiri Pandit family, Kao spent his upbringing under the care of his uncle following his father's early passing. He completed his initial schooling in Baroda before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Lucknow University and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Allahabad University. In 1940, Kao cleared the Civil Services examination and joined the Indian Imperial Police, the predecessor to the Indian Police Service.
Following India’s independence, he was deputed to the Intelligence Bureau (IB), where he was assigned to the security team of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During the 1950s, he built international foreign policy expertise, assisting in establishing Ghana's national security framework and investigating high-profile foreign incidents like the 1955 Kashmir Princess aircraft bombing.
Establishing R&AW and Strategic Operations
Intelligence limitations revealed during the 1962 Sino-Indian War prompted structural changes in India's intelligence gathering. PM Nehru appointed Kao as the founding director of the Aviation Research Centre. By September 1968, recognising the need for a separate entity dedicated exclusively to foreign intelligence, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi bifurcated the IB and created R&AW, selecting Kao to build the agency from the ground up. ‘Hanuman Ansh’ Wave: Karan Johar Set To Produce Radha Krishna Devotional Film?.
Under Kao’s leadership, R&AW delivered critical operational outcomes during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The agency coordinated covert training and support for the Mukti Bahini militia, significantly contributing to the strategic framework that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Kao later served as Senior Adviser to Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, playing key roles in the integration of Sikkim into the Indian Union and the founding of the National Security Guard (NSG).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 11:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).