In 2004, even though a peace process had kicked off in Delhi’s political space, those working secretly at Lodhi Road were still very alert, watching closely for anything that might disturb the region’s balance. One potential concern came from the rising influence of a Bangladesh Army officer, Brigadier Saqlain Mirza (played by Shataf Figar).
However, the assassin (Azmeri Haque Badhon) sent by India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) to stop him got eliminated by Mirza, who quickly figured out that foreign agents were on his trail. Back in Delhi, Krishna Mehra, also known as KM (acted by Tabu), found herself shattered.
Betrayal came from inside the quietest room (Photo: Khufiya/Netflix Studios and Vishal Bhardwaj Films)Not just because the mission had collapsed, but also because she lost the one she loved. Her colleague, Jeev (Ashish Vidyarthi), soon brought disturbing news: it appeared someone from within their circle was leaking information.
He assigned KM to uncover the mole. Her investigation narrowed down to one person: Captain Ravi Mohan, once an Indian Army officer, now full-time with R&AW. His lifestyle didn’t match his official income, raising suspicion.
Ravi stayed in a family house with his aged mother (Navnindra Bahl), wife Charu (Wamiqa Gabbi), and their young son Kunal. At first, KM and her surveillance team suspected that Charu might be his partner in crime. But it didn’t take long to realise that the real instigator was Ravi’s mother.
She had pushed him into espionage, craving wealth and comfort. At the same time, Ravi held strong beliefs—he thought passing information to the Americans would help them clean up the Taliban presence in South Asia.
While all this was happening, KM was also battling inner struggles. She had not healed from the emotional loss of her lover, and she found it difficult to build a proper bond with her son. The person who unexpectedly showed her some understanding was her former husband, Shashank (Atul Kulkarni).
He encouraged her to stop pretending and be truthful—to her son and herself—urging her to let go of the emotional baggage she’d been carrying for years.
The Operation(s)
KM and her team placed the Mohans under non-stop observation to prevent them from catching on to the counterintelligence work happening behind the scenes. They kept an eye on the family from a nearby Mother Dairy store. Tiny devices captured audio and video from their house and Ravi’s workplace.
But Ravi, who had spent enough time playing this game, started sensing that something wasn’t right. When he discovered one of the hidden cameras, he became fully aware that they were onto him. The R&AW team tried to close in on him, while the CIA, too, rushed to extract him.
As confusion broke out, Charu realised the truth about her husband’s secret activities and wouldn’t let him leave with their son. That was when Ravi’s mother shot Charu to clear the way for their escape. They fled the scene just before KM and her people arrived.
Charu survived, and during her recovery, she found out that Ravi, his mother, and their son had been taken to the United States by the CIA. She begged KM to help her reconnect with her son, pointing out how badly she missed him. This touched KM deeply—she also struggled with the gap between her and her teenage boy.
KM managed to convince her seniors that Charu’s involvement could serve as a tactical counter against the CIA. After undergoing necessary training, Charu was inserted into the US using a spiritual front—she posed as part of the entourage of a guru (Rahul Ram) who was once connected to her mother-in-law.
Interestingly, this same guru had fallen out with the Indian government and agreed to help because his funds were blocked. The plan succeeded. With the guru’s help, Charu’s mother-in-law gave her another chance and let her back in.
Ravi, although angry at first—especially because the CIA had abandoned him and his family were now living in hardship—was told by his American handlers that Charu was clean. As a result, the family routine resumed.
Still, Ravi didn’t relax completely. He secretly installed cameras to watch Charu’s moves. But Charu, being equally sharp, had her own listening devices planted. By watching each other, they both stayed alert. Yet, over time, Charu’s steady behaviour made Ravi believe she truly wasn’t out to betray him.
The Twist
A sudden turn came not from a clever gadget or hidden message, but from KM herself appearing face-to-face with Ravi. She had a clear objective: to convince Ravi to switch sides once more—this time against the Americans, who were now trying to win over Brigadier Mirza.
A soldier’s mother pulled the strings no one saw (Photo: Khufiya/Netflix Studios and Vishal Bhardwaj Films)KM’s reasoning had two angles. First, she wanted to bring Ravi back to Indian soil to officially close the chapter on his betrayal. Second, she still held deep pain over her lover’s death, which had come at the hands of Mirza.
With this in mind, Mirza was invited to the Mohans’ home for a meal, with plans already set for him to consume poisoned curry. But things didn’t go as expected—Mirza caught on to the trap. A struggle followed, and during the scuffle, Ravi’s mother was killed by Mirza.
In that instant, he almost appeared to be a hero. Enraged, Ravi struck Mirza hard and was about to finish him off, but KM stepped in and stopped him. Instead, she laid out a strategy to deal with the CIA agent who was handling Ravi.
Negotiations followed. KM managed to get the agent to confess—on camera—that he was spying for the CIA. They struck a deal: the CIA man would help dispose of Mirza’s body, making it seem like an accident, and also ensure Ravi’s quiet return to India.
The closing scene brought closure to many threads. Jeev received a worn-out but relieved Ravi, who had made his way back to India via a cargo ship. KM and Charu, speaking elsewhere, reflected on their children.
Encouraged by Charu, KM took the first step toward repairing her relationship with her son, starting with the truth, the same truth Shashank had once told her to stop hiding.
