Netflix movie Khufiya is a thrilling mystery that is based on a book by Amar Bhushan telling the story of Krishna Mehra, who worked for the Indian spy network known as R&AW, on the trail of a mole who is causing chaos by selling secrets to counter operatives. However, there are some even deadlier secrets at the center of the operation, including some that make the situation personal, and the story is leaving viewers wondering if the film is in fact a true story.
We have a full review and ending explained article available for you to read right here on the site, but the real truth of the matter is explored below. Be warned, though, that many spoilers for the film are also included.
Khufiya movie plot explained
The film follows some well-known paths, and we find R&AW agent Krishna on a mission to compromise a Bangladeshi politician who seems a little too close to Pakistan’s ISI.
ISI, a rival intelligence agency, would be considered a threat to India, and Krishna would enlist the aid of a woman called Heena to help on the mission.
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Tragedy strikes when Heena is killed and the idea of a mole leaking information seems highly probable.
Ravi Mohan is the number one suspect, and steps are taken to survey him closely, but the truth begins to reveal aspects of the operation that are personal and conflicted, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy everyone involved.
Is Khufiya based on a true story?
As is often the case with these types of productions, there are elements of real life that are comfortably inserted into a narrative to provide a satisfying viewing experience.
The book that the film is based on has been declared by the author to be a work of fiction, and that makes the film’s declaration that it is based on real events puzzling.
However, it does seem that certain pivotal characters such as Ravi may be inspired by real-life counterparts.
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The film also deviates from the book in many ways, with protagonist Krishna originally written for a male, but again decisions are made to provide the best entertainment for the audience, and this can lead to a muddying of the waters between fact and fiction.
The ending of the book and the film are quite different.
It would be safe to say that the film blends fiction with fantasy, just like real-life espionage, where nothing is ever really as it seems.
Are Krishna Mehra and Ravi Mohan real R&AW agents?
It appears that the closest to a real character would be Ravi who seems to be based on the real-life Joint Secretary of R&AW who would escape to America in 2004.
Krishna Mehra seems to be an amalgamation of other real-life counterparts, drawing on their experiences and adjusted to provide a more compelling fictional avatar for the film.
