The media writes my obit every year: John Abraham

The media writes my obit every year: John Abraham

Every time I start a film €" whether as an actor or a producer €" I still feel like a newcomer. I still ask the same questions, and need the same assurances. The only difference is that in all these years, I have earned a strong power to decipher the right from the wrong.

Do you also have the fire and hunger of a newcomer?

If we go according to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which starts with physiological needs going up to the self-actualisation needs, let me reinstate that I still have my physiological needs in focus €" I always wanted to become the fastest, strongest and the fittest. But I've also evolved on the psychological level. Now, I want to make content-driven cinema that stands the test of time.

What has been your biggest learning in the decade?

The people I presumed to be intelligent are actually opportunistic. I believed that I'm surrounded by like-minded people but it took me a while to realise that everyone here is only driven by opportunity. Let me say this on record that there's nothing wrong with it.

What was your cinema dream when you began and has it changed over the years?

Like any regular boy, I was fascinated by Sylvester Stallone in Rocky. I wanted to be the toughest guy with the best body. Somehow, the body aspect overshadowed everything else.

I remember in one of the very first interviews we did together, we termed you as The Body. Is the tag bothering you now?

I'm okay with it, really. It's great to be associated with something I've worked hard on. It's not easy to reconstruct and physically transform your body according to the part you are playing. I do it every time but it's becoming tougher. I still like the compliment of being called The Body but today, what matters more is when people say 'best content' to my film.

The decision to turn producer, did it stem from your dissatisfaction with the material that you were being offered?

Today producers are not making films, they are just making proposals. It's all about get an A-list hero, tag along a heroine to him and package it with five songs. I did movies such as Water, No Smoking and Kabul Express but realised that producers were not able to marry commerce with content so I thought of giving it a shot. I started with Vicky Donor, and now we have Madras Cafe.

What is it about Madras Caf that made you want to act in it as well as produce it?

Shoojit (Sircar) offered me this film seven years back when it was titled Jaffna. The subject is very close to my heart because I'm very politically aware. The story of the conflict to the assassination resonated with me.

Tell us about your low phase?

Every year, the media writes my obit so I've learnt to live with it. The year 2010 was the darkest phase of my life. Everything fell apart €" in my personal space, to my dad being diagnosed with cancer, to my films flopping. But that's okay. That's life.

Tell us about your low phase?

Every year, the media writes my obit so I've learnt to live with it. The year 2010 was the darkest phase of my life. Everything fell apart " in my personal space, to my dad being diagnosed with cancer, to my films flopping. But that's okay. That's life.

Aww this disheartened me...no one knows what he suffered and was the target since the broke up...but never tried to explained anyone or cried on spoiled milk.

I am glad good phase has started for him...as actor and as producer too.👍🏼

johny
awesome replies!

I adore him as a person and think he is very intelligent,well spoken & nice.

But he cannot act for shit and that's a fact

Originally posted by: abby_girl30

I adore him as a person and think he is very intelligent,well spoken & nice.

But he cannot act for shit and that's a fact

THIS sums up everything👏