Actor John Abraham, named the sexiest man alive by People magazine, says his girlfriend Priya Runchal's first reaction was one of disbelief. But she followed it up with a flattering compliment.

"She said, 'Are you serious they gave it to you this year? You should have been getting it every year!' I think that's the best compliment I got," the 39-year-old said here Wednesday while unveiling the magazine's cover.

John says it is good to have an appreciative partner like Priya.

"I asked her (how she feels about it), and she said 'Oh, that's good.' That is it, she is very reserved and answers very limited.

"Well, I am sure she is very happy. It is nice to be appreciated for your work and when your partner is appreciative, I think it is very special," he said.

John broke up his nine-year-long relationship with Bipasha Basu in 2011.


Meanwhile, talking about his upcoming film "Race 2", John said he was back in a similar avatar that he sported in "Dhoom".

"After 'Dhoom', 'Race 2' is the first film I have done in a similar space. John Abraham is back in 'Race 2' exactly like the Kabir in 'Dhoom'," he said.

John, who turned producer with "Vicky Donor" this year, is willing to produce a movie like "Race" but admits his productions are quite different from the usual films.

"Why not? I think it is important to produce entertaining commercial films. But my films have an edge, the ones I produce, and I would like to believe I possess great content and I would love to show it," he said.

Directed by Abbas-Mustan, "Race 2" also stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandes, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel. It is set for release Jan 25, 2013.