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Big Interview: "My obituary gets signed every year," says John Abraham
posted on : 06 Aug 2013
From being criticized for being wooden faced to becoming one of the biggest superstars of Bollywood, John Abraham has come a long way. This model turned actor has grown from strength to strength and carved a niche for himself not just as an actor but also an astute investor and a film producer. Having won a national award with his first venture Vicky Donor, John is now eagerly awaiting the release of his second production venture Madras Caf that stars him in the role of a RAW Agent. With the film coming close to release, we get chatty with the hunk who candidly opens up about the intent behind having a production house, the stability factor in his life Priya Runchal and how he takes criticism with a pinch of salt. Excerpts:
For someone who likes to play larger-than-life characters, was it a risky proposition to play a realistic role in Madras Caf?
In a way, it is a risk, as people like to see me in films likeForce and Shootout At Wadala. But Shoojit (Sircar) was very clear that people shouldn't expect my character in this film to be similar to these other films. It isn't like John Abraham is taking his shirt off and running on the streets. At the end of the day, it's a very real film with commercial elements in it.
You mentioned at a press conference that you wouldn't be flaunting your abs in this film. Were you taking a dig at any actor (Reportedly, Salman Khan)?
Not at all. Sadly, that's the job of contorted media minds to make an assumption of out of nothing. The only person at that time I really spoke about was me because I have done it in my earlier films.
Madras Caf doesn't have over-the-top and larger-than-life action. I was shocked when I read reports. I have complete respect for Salman (Khan), for the films he has done. I have complete respect for the films I also have done in the past because they have garnered commercial success.
The only point I was trying to make is that this is a very different film and in this we have tried to portray military personnel in late '80s early '90s like they actually were. So I play Major Vikram Singh who is sent to a foreign country for covert operation. Now if Major Vikram Singh suddenly took off his shirt then im defeating the purpose of this film.
Yes, it is a risk because people want to see the John Abraham of Shootout (At Wadala), they will see that too in my other films.
You essay larger-than-life characters but at the same time speak about content driven films; do you consciously want to establish two distinguised identities?
Yes, I am trying to create two different identities of John Abraham, the producer and the actor. As of now, I want to make a strong impact as a producer. As an actor, I am easily accepted in a commercial format. I am using my commercial standing to promote my films. Take Vicky Donor for example; Ayushmann Khurrana was a newcomer and no one wanted to meet him. As a producer, I marketed him. Didn't he finally validate it? He was beautiful and amazing. So it's important to use your commercial standing to make cinema that you believe in.
Does balance both the shades to your personality become difficult for you?
I have done an MBA and I have positioned myself differently in the minds of the audience. When I got into films, I was very clear that I want to be positioned as a biker, a fitness guy, as a guy who loves football and I have done exactly all that in all my films be it Dhoom, Dostana, Force or Shootout.
Similarly as a producer, I strive for content driven cinema, because I think it's important for people to know that I mean and hope to make good cinema. So if I have to use my use my commercial standing yes. Is John Abraham the hero of Madras Caf? No, I am a character and so is Nargis Fakhri or any other actor. We hope the hero of the film is story.
Was Nargis Fakhri always your first choice?
Right at the start we had approached Frieda Pinto. She had loved the script and expressed her interest to do the film. But she had Woolly Allen's film so she couldn't do it. She called me and said it is courageous of me to make a film like Madras Caf because India needs to see more films like that. But then Nargis was our only choice after that.
The film seems to be introducing very unlikely debutants Piyush Pandey, Agnello Dias, Sidharth Basu etc. who's idea was it to get them on board?
It was Shoojit's idea that except for Nargis and me, the rest of the cast has to be absolutely rank raw newcomers because that lends to the realism of each character.
Is the film Anti or Pro LTTE or Tamilians? Do you worry that it might hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu?
This film is not anti-Tamil or anti-Sri Lanka. It is not definitely anti or pro IFKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force). We have researched from the Jain commission report and every possible report to say a story that is meant to be told. It is based on the work of fiction. My character is fictitious. The backdrop of this story is inspired by true events that have happened in late '80s and early '90s. I don't think this film should be banned. I think every Tamilian should see this film.
Kamal Haasan faced lot of opposition with Vishwaroopam, do you fear something similar too and if so are you ready to face it?
I am completely ready. There's a possibility that the film can anger Tamilians. So I am going to Chennai and will talk to the media and people there. Tamil Nadu is integral part of India, we are not anti-pro to anyone; we are telling the story the way it is. We have been fair.
You have completed 10 years in the industry. How do you see those years?
I was written off every year. My obituary is signed every year (laughs). Before Force, three of my films (Saath Khoon Maaf, Jhoota Hee Sahi and Aashayein) flopped. People said John Abraham is over. I was written off after my first film Jism. A numerologist said John Abraham will be gone after Jism. But I survived for 10 years. It is nice to be written off so that you can come back stronger with a vengeance! I don't take it negatively; there is no anger in me. I put my head down and do my work and let it speak for itself.
While a lot of actors safeguard their investments from media, your's on the contrary have always been outspoken…
I don't like to talk about my investments but I can say that it is important to invest your money safely. I grew up in a middle class family. I had Rs 550 in the bank when I started my professional career. I value my earnings very much. I don't wear fancy watches, don't have any flashy stuff and rarely attend parties. I don't do anything that is typically filmi. It is nice to be a bad boy in Bollywood but in real life, you have to be a good role model. I want audiences to resonate with me and say, 'he is like us'.
Do these stout investments have anything to do with the fact that you now have an investment banker in your life?
I used to invest even before I met her. But it does make a difference as there is a perspective now. She is a complete stability factor in my life.
I am cautious about money. For me one rupee is 100 paisa. I keep checking the mileage of my car, I keep track of my rationining expense so on and so forth.
By Swati Rohatgi
For someone who likes to play larger-than-life characters, was it a risky proposition to play a realistic role in Madras Caf?
In a way, it is a risk, as people like to see me in films likeForce and Shootout At Wadala. But Shoojit (Sircar) was very clear that people shouldn't expect my character in this film to be similar to these other films. It isn't like John Abraham is taking his shirt off and running on the streets. At the end of the day, it's a very real film with commercial elements in it.
You mentioned at a press conference that you wouldn't be flaunting your abs in this film. Were you taking a dig at any actor (Reportedly, Salman Khan)?
Not at all. Sadly, that's the job of contorted media minds to make an assumption of out of nothing. The only person at that time I really spoke about was me because I have done it in my earlier films.
Madras Caf doesn't have over-the-top and larger-than-life action. I was shocked when I read reports. I have complete respect for Salman (Khan), for the films he has done. I have complete respect for the films I also have done in the past because they have garnered commercial success.
The only point I was trying to make is that this is a very different film and in this we have tried to portray military personnel in late '80s early '90s like they actually were. So I play Major Vikram Singh who is sent to a foreign country for covert operation. Now if Major Vikram Singh suddenly took off his shirt then im defeating the purpose of this film.
Yes, it is a risk because people want to see the John Abraham of Shootout (At Wadala), they will see that too in my other films.
We had approached Frieda Pinto for Madras Cafe. She had loved the script and expressed her interest to do the film.
You essay larger-than-life characters but at the same time speak about content driven films; do you consciously want to establish two distinguised identities?
Yes, I am trying to create two different identities of John Abraham, the producer and the actor. As of now, I want to make a strong impact as a producer. As an actor, I am easily accepted in a commercial format. I am using my commercial standing to promote my films. Take Vicky Donor for example; Ayushmann Khurrana was a newcomer and no one wanted to meet him. As a producer, I marketed him. Didn't he finally validate it? He was beautiful and amazing. So it's important to use your commercial standing to make cinema that you believe in.
Does balance both the shades to your personality become difficult for you?
I have done an MBA and I have positioned myself differently in the minds of the audience. When I got into films, I was very clear that I want to be positioned as a biker, a fitness guy, as a guy who loves football and I have done exactly all that in all my films be it Dhoom, Dostana, Force or Shootout.
Similarly as a producer, I strive for content driven cinema, because I think it's important for people to know that I mean and hope to make good cinema. So if I have to use my use my commercial standing yes. Is John Abraham the hero of Madras Caf? No, I am a character and so is Nargis Fakhri or any other actor. We hope the hero of the film is story.
Was Nargis Fakhri always your first choice?
Right at the start we had approached Frieda Pinto. She had loved the script and expressed her interest to do the film. But she had Woolly Allen's film so she couldn't do it. She called me and said it is courageous of me to make a film like Madras Caf because India needs to see more films like that. But then Nargis was our only choice after that.
The film seems to be introducing very unlikely debutants Piyush Pandey, Agnello Dias, Sidharth Basu etc. who's idea was it to get them on board?
It was Shoojit's idea that except for Nargis and me, the rest of the cast has to be absolutely rank raw newcomers because that lends to the realism of each character.
Is the film Anti or Pro LTTE or Tamilians? Do you worry that it might hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu?
This film is not anti-Tamil or anti-Sri Lanka. It is not definitely anti or pro IFKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force). We have researched from the Jain commission report and every possible report to say a story that is meant to be told. It is based on the work of fiction. My character is fictitious. The backdrop of this story is inspired by true events that have happened in late '80s and early '90s. I don't think this film should be banned. I think every Tamilian should see this film.
Kamal Haasan faced lot of opposition with Vishwaroopam, do you fear something similar too and if so are you ready to face it?
I am completely ready. There's a possibility that the film can anger Tamilians. So I am going to Chennai and will talk to the media and people there. Tamil Nadu is integral part of India, we are not anti-pro to anyone; we are telling the story the way it is. We have been fair.
Priya (Runchal) is a stability factor in my life.
You have completed 10 years in the industry. How do you see those years?
I was written off every year. My obituary is signed every year (laughs). Before Force, three of my films (Saath Khoon Maaf, Jhoota Hee Sahi and Aashayein) flopped. People said John Abraham is over. I was written off after my first film Jism. A numerologist said John Abraham will be gone after Jism. But I survived for 10 years. It is nice to be written off so that you can come back stronger with a vengeance! I don't take it negatively; there is no anger in me. I put my head down and do my work and let it speak for itself.
While a lot of actors safeguard their investments from media, your's on the contrary have always been outspoken…
I don't like to talk about my investments but I can say that it is important to invest your money safely. I grew up in a middle class family. I had Rs 550 in the bank when I started my professional career. I value my earnings very much. I don't wear fancy watches, don't have any flashy stuff and rarely attend parties. I don't do anything that is typically filmi. It is nice to be a bad boy in Bollywood but in real life, you have to be a good role model. I want audiences to resonate with me and say, 'he is like us'.
Do these stout investments have anything to do with the fact that you now have an investment banker in your life?
I used to invest even before I met her. But it does make a difference as there is a perspective now. She is a complete stability factor in my life.
I am cautious about money. For me one rupee is 100 paisa. I keep checking the mileage of my car, I keep track of my rationining expense so on and so forth.
By Swati Rohatgi
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
4