John Abraham has never shied away from speaking his mind. At a recent event, the actor reflected on his journey as an outsider and the criticism he claims to have faced since his debut in 2003.“I have probably been criticized the most in this industry, from the time I started. When I came in 2003, there were no outsiders. Before that, only Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar (entered the film industry). The amount of criticism I have gone through, nobody else has faced that in my time,” John told Screen.
Explaining how he dealt with the scrutiny, he added, “For me, it was simple. I was like a horse with blinkers. I could only see in front, and didn’t expect. I have never had a publicist. I don’t go out there to feed stories in the media; it could make me vulnerable as well, but I think people know my integrity and where I come from.”
John on bonding with male co-stars
Speaking about working alongside contemporaries who enjoyed stronger industry positioning, John shared that he chose not to view his journey as a competition.“The best way is to train your mind to know that you are not competing but complementing. I get along way better with my male co-stars. I have worked with Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, and Abhishek Bachchan. I have even kissed Abhishek. They look at me as someone who complements their process, and I look at them the same way. For me, I am not competitive in that space; I am very comfortable around guys, and that beauty shows in the film.”Over the years, John has shared screen space with several leading stars, choosing collaboration over rivalry — a stance he believes reflects in his performances.
Keen on comedy, open to ‘No Smoking 2’; big projects lined up
Apart from reflecting on his past, John also spoke about what lies ahead. He revealed that he is on the lookout for a good comedy and would love to return for No Smoking 2 if it is ever made. On the work front, the actor is reportedly reviving the Force franchise. He will also be seen playing Duryodhana in Arun Gopalan’s modern Mahabharata adaptation. Additionally, reports suggest he may collaborate with Rohit Shetty on a biopic based on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria.
