Have to set trends: John Abraham

John Abraham entered Bollywood as an actor with Jism in 2003, which was followed by his first successful commercial film Dhoom. After experiencing a tumultuous acting career, he moved to producing with the critically acclaimed Vicky Donor. The film even fetched him a National Award in the Best Popular Film category. He continued the streak of topical films, which he both produces and acts in, like Madras Café, Satyamev Jayate, Parmanu and now Batla House.

Coming into the industry as an outsider without loyalty to any camp, John decided to produce films under his own production house, JA Entertainment. When asked why he turned producer, John reveals that he was not getting to do films as an actor.  “My work as an actor improved after I turned a producer. You have to make cinema that is contemporary and new age. Vicky Donor gave birth to Badhaai Ho, Shubh Mangal Savdhaan and Khandaani Shafakhana. Madras Cafe gave birth to films like Article 15. You have to be a trendsetter, and I wanted to do something different as a producer. I enjoy my work more than ever before and I am proud of it. I am working with Bobby Garewal and Nikhil Advani again. We are doing six films together. I think that under JA Entertainment, we are doing films that we love to make. I don’t go for parties, neither do I belong to any camps, and nor do I have friends. I am doing my own stuff, I am compromising on my budgets and I am happy with stories I am telling.  Studios are coming forward to join hands with our upcoming projects and  look forward to co-produce with me,” he says.

John adds that producing historical and relevant films gives him a sense of accomplishment. “It’s fantastic to produce such films which give knowledge to our youth. Someone has to do it, and I did it with Parmanu and Madras Café, we showed the sample. I heard people say that he died in the end and John Abrham didn’t save him. Someone has to bell the cat. The new generation needs to know about our country,” he further explains.

The 46-year-old, who has also forayed into comedy films like Garam Masala and Welcome Back, will soon be seen in Pagalpanti. “I love Anees Bazmee films and I love comedy. I take my family out to watch comedy films. It’s the most difficult genre; it’s easy to make the people cry but it’s difficult to make them laugh. We just finished shooting and I enjoyed doing it. Ek hi gaana bacha hai (only one song left to be shot),” he shares.

As for other upcoming projects, John says he will start work on gangster drama Mumbai Saga on August 16, and will move on to action flick Attack with Lakshraj Ananat. “Thereafter, I have Satyamev Jayate 2,” the actor adds.

With his career more booming than ever, John says he does not have a wish list of big directors whom he wants to work with. “We have a herd mentality that working with big directors and big actors will always bring good work. But I want to make a wish list of smaller directors, who can become big and super successful. And maybe he will forget me and may move on to another actor, but that makes no difference to me,” he concludes.