John rides high post Parmanu

When models take up acting, their acting skills are scrutinized and judged. That is why very few models have managed to find a footing in the industry. John Abraham, however, is a pleasant exception for he has done well as an actor and producer. Currently, the actor is basking in the success of his latest film, Parmanu, and in an interview, he reveals intriguing details about himself and his films.

Due to your legal battle with Prerna Arora, Parmanu had trouble releasing. Now that the film is a success, how do you feel about the journey?
What a journey we have had with Parmanu...from a time, not so long ago, when the film’s release was under question, to all possible hurdles in our promotional campaign. I'm so grateful to them for accepting our labour of love wholeheartedly. What makes me happier is that, despite all odds, my production house, JA Entertainment, and our partners stood by each other and ensured that we take this story to every proud Indian. 

What drives you to choose films like Force 2, Parmanu or Satyameva Jayate?
I don’t like anything that has a formula. I like non-formula films. I love films that challenge me as an actor and a producer. Some films you make just for commercial reasons and some films, you make because you feel that story needs to be told.

There was a time when your films didn’t work. How did you deal with failure as an actor?
Everything moves so fast; by the time one film failed, I had another film that had succeeded.  By the time another film succeeds, there is another film that has failed. So the momentum was so fast that I didn't have time to sit and think. Besides, it’s part and parcel of being an actor.

An actor’s job is a lot like a freelance job; you don’t know what’s next. How do you deal with the unpredictability of your profession?
My biggest advantage is that I am very secure in my own space. I operate from a space where it doesn’t matter to me what others are doing and that’s my biggest advantage. I am a very secure actor.

Over the years, have you been able to gauge what the audience expects from you?
If you are an actor of a certain stature, you feel you can belt out any crap and the audience is going to accept it. But, I feel the audience has become far more discerning. It’s a visual medium. You can’t look a certain way and take the audience for granted. You can’t give them substandard content. I feel secure about what I am doing for my audience. I understand what audience is hungry for.

Very few models-turned-actors have been able to prove their mettle in the industry. How difficult is it to survive?
Its self-conviction and I say this in all my interviews, and I say this to youngsters. You need to have self-conviction. If you don’t convince yourself that you are worth it, no one is going to. I convinced myself and I knew I could do it, which is why I am here.

We don’t see you going on vacations or taking a break from work. Why is that?
I am like a horse with blinkers on. I am obsessive about my work and I must confess, I am a workaholic. I haven’t taken a holiday for a long time. I work every day. I get worried if I am not working. I get worried if I sleep beyond a certain point in time, because I feel that productive time is lost.

As a producer, what kinds of stories do you like exploring?
I listen to every writer and every new director, because I don’t know where I will get a great idea. A lot of writers and directors comes to me and say, ‘you really want to hear us out completely? Because no one wants to hear us’. And I feel like I am being selfish. So, I am very clear; I am a beggar for good stories. As a producer, I am looking for great stories. JA Entertainment deals with well-defined, curated content. We spend a lot of time on research and we tell stories honestly and simply.

You are touted as the action hero in showbiz. Have you ever used a body double for an action scene?
I don’t like using body doubles and that’s why I get hurt often on sets. I get injured in all my films. I am not complaining though and I don’t like using body doubles and there is a certain sense of high I get when I do all the action scenes myself. You have no business to be here if you are using body doubles all the time.