In the past year, John Abraham seems to have finally come into his own when it comes to acting and production. In a freewheeling conversation with Deepali Dhingra, he speaks about his latest film Madras Cafe and plans for the future

If there's one thing John Abraham doesn't believe in, it's the concept of taking life each day as it comes. `I believe that lifeis a game of chess, so I just plan the next move. In fact, I plan five moves ahead,` says the actor, when we meet him on a Monday afternoon.

Seated at his plush office in Bandra, the actor's busy giving interviews for his upcoming film Madras Cafe, which, according to him, is part of the plan too. `I've been told that my name is synonymous with 'The Body',` he laughs, `But unlike earlier, when the physicality used to precede my work, today it's all about the performance. Madras Cafe is a move in that direction. People will speak about the content. The audience has already started taking me seriously and I like that.`

Tell him that the film's director Shoojit Sircar has been quoted as saying that the audience will get to see a 'new John' in the film and the actor immediately nods his head in agreement. `He's absolutely right. He's deconstructed me and reconstructed me in this film,` he says of his role. John, who plays an intelligence officer in the film and goes to Jaffna for an undercover operation, had to not only look leaner physically for his role, but also get under the skin of the character.

`Shoojit said, 'you can't look like John Abraham. You have to look like a regular guy because that's how you infiltrate into areas, by looking as regular as possible',` he says. The director's other dictat to his lead actor was to be as subtle as possible, when it comes to playing the role. `His take was that in an industry like ours where overacting is considered great acting, he wanted me to be subtle. That pretty much suits my style anyway,` he chuckles.


Madras Cafe will be John's second home-production after Vicky Donor and is a film that the actor-turned-producer associates with credible content. `Credible is anything that is entertaining, and at the same time has a strong story to it. Madras Cafe falls into that category and so did Vicky Donor. I think it's important to cater to even a small audience, but in a different space and in a different way.` Turning producer, too, was a pre-planned decision for the dimpled-actor, and one that seems to have paid off really well.

`I always wanted to be a producer because I wanted to make a certain kind of cinema. Now I'm doing just that. Maybe one day I'll direct, maybe there's a plan in my head that I'm not sharing with you right now!` he laughs. Another plan included building a football academy in Sikkim with Bhaichung Bhutia, but they had to put those plans on hold because of the earthquake. `Bhaichung and I need to sit together and rework that. It's something that is still on my agenda very strongly,` says the football enthusiast.

Films-wise, the last one and a half years have been great for John, both as an actor with Force, Desi Boyz, Race 2, Housefull 2 and Shootout at Wadala doing well at the box office, and as a producer with the critically-acclaimed Vicky Donor. But he also has gone through years of criticism, with people saying models can't act. How does he look at all that now? `It's fine.


I'll face criticism even in the future. But Shootout at Wadala actually put a few things to rest, with people saying it's a great performance and that John has finally come into his own, etc. I just feel that you have some good days, some bad days, some good films and some bad films.

I was a model and people will always associate me with a great body and face. For me to shrug that off, even if that's taken a long time, it's fine. I'm absolutely gracious about any criticism. I will put my head down and do my work,` he replies. Remind him that he's completed a decade in Bollywood (he made his debut in 2003 with Jism), and he laughs, `I must have done something right!`

Will 'Madras Cafe' be for selective audiences?

With no confusion or ambiguity in his mind, model-actor-producer John Abraham is aggressively promoting his ready-to-release 'Madras Cafe', saying it is not a multiplex movie and that he is targetting selective audiences who can appreciate it.

After his first successful production venture 'Vicky Donor', this is his second film and he is also acting in it.

"We are very clear that we are not a multiplex film," John said, adding that a limited number of prints were being released. "We are not apologetic about this. We are not trying to make our film a mass entertainer."


"I am an actor and can make 10 other mass entertainers, but this film is to reach out to a specific audience and I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem if I find my audience on Monday. I will be very happy if I find my audience on Monday," he said.

Directed by Shoojit Sircar, 'Madras Cafe', a spy thriller high on action, features John and Nargis Fakhri in the lead. It is slated for an August 23 release.

Busy promoting the film, John said, "This is a political thriller and each film has its own audience. We have to find our audience for the film.

"This is not a 'Welcome Back' or a 'Dostana' where you get your audience. For this film, you have to search for your audience. I am sure people will appreciate the effort that we have put in; at least that's the intention with which we have done it. I hope it does not go unnoticed."

Nowadays, filmdom has a new yardstick to measure a film's box office success - the Rs.100 crore club.

But John doesn't agree with this, saying: "All Rs.100 crore films are not the greatest films. There are Rs.20 crore to Rs.30 crore films that are brilliant."

"As an actor I am doing 'Welcome Back' and 'Dostana 2'. I am doing the most commercial films which will go beyond any numbers, but it's important to make a film like 'Madras Cafe'. I am very proud of the film," he added.

He may have his fundas clear about the release, but he admits that producing films is a daunting task.

"As an actor you only think about your acting. Now that I am a producer, I have understood how much responsibility is on your shoulders. It's very difficult and challenging.


"I did an MBA. Before modeling, I was interested in advertising, so to present a film is my passion. As a producer it became a progression. Being an actor is great, but being a producer is very difficult," the 40-year-old said.

He also shows a bent towards regional cinema.

John, a half Malayali, said, "I can't speak Malayalam, but yes I accept my interest in Malayalam films. I would like to do some guest appearance with Mammootty and Dilip to start with. I really believe their cinema is unbelievable. You have to see Malayalam films to see their depth. I am a very proud half Malayali."

John's father is a Malayali, while his mother is a Parsi.