How accurate are depictions of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in movies and TV shows?

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Depictions of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in Indian films and television, although loosely grounded in reality, are generally considered to be highly dramatized. Popular portrayals often depict R&AW officers as operating with wide autonomy, engaging in frequent cross-border missions, and conducting high-risk operations with minimal bureaucratic or political constraints. Films such as Baby (2015), Raazi (2018), Bell Bottom (2021), Pathaan (2023; part of the YRF Spy Universe), and Dhurandhar (2025) depict the agency as a powerful, covert instrument of statecraft, often inspired by real operations but simplified for narrative effect.