Just when critics were writing him off as jinxed, John Abraham bounces back into the game, forcing his detractors to eat their words. With two significant releases: Nagesh Kukunoor's intense drama Aashayein and Abbas Tyrewala's Jootha Hai Sahi, he's confident his performance will place him ahead of the curve.
"Now, that my projects are ready, they need to be worried. They'll have to retract what they've said," says Abraham.
In an industry where fame is overrated and self-marketing an absolute prerequisite to stardom, his quirks have irked many in his fraternity.
"People were saying I was jinxed when I was refusing work. It was affecting others more than me. Actually, it was Abbas' film that spoilt me. I didn't find any script that matched it. I must have read about 70 scripts, but nothing substantial. So, I just sat for eight months doing nothing."
The media, however, wasn't as understanding. They played up his absence, trumpeting his "failure" with a vengeance. "There's irresponsible media somewhere down the line. I've had reporters (from prestigious publications) call me and blatantly ask for a story."
He's quick to draw a parallel with the American paparazzi, "but they also have a section for responsible reportage. There's a certain responsibility with which I give my answers, but they get contorted somewhere down the line."
While Aashayein, a project that was put on hold since 2009 due to production problems, will help him regain his lost kingdom, there's David Dhawan's Hook Ya Crook, which won't portray a happy ending.
"It's an ambitious project. The remaining 25 per cent of the shoot couldn't be completed due to logistic reasons. The unavailability of two international cricket teams, which is crucial to the climax, has stalled it. So, David, UTV (the producers) and I have decided to stop the filming until the prerequisites are met."
And contrary to reports of his alleged fall-out with Dhawan, Abraham says "we have a good relationship. I'm even working in his son's film Desi Boyz."
So, the lean phase is finally drawing to a close, with Abraham landing a few plum projects, namely Nishant Kamat's remake of Tamil hit Kaakha Kaakha, and the much-anticipated sequels to the comic caper Dostana and racy thriller Race.
"I start work for Nishant in a few days. In fact, Surya (the lead actor in the original) is a dear friend and he's happy that I'm doing his part." And with the high-profile sequels, Abraham returns to do what he does best, playing the mean, bad guy. There's also celebrated film-maker Vishal Bharadwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf where he plays one of Priyanka Chopra's seven husbands.
After Dostana won him huge applause, along with undue attention for his yellow trunks, Abraham confesses he never imagined it'd be a risky venture. "In fact, Abhishek [Bachchan] and I didn't give it any thought. We didn't feel awkward. It was only after we saw the reaction that we realised we've done something crazy."
Subsequent to a physical comedy like Dostana, Abraham refrained from playing candy-floss flicks only because he didn't want to be stereotyped.
"It's easy for me to play myself... to be safe and be liked. But it's important for an actor to get out of that space and still be liked." And that's exactly how he's done it this time round. "If Aashayein sees me move a little away from my comfort zone, then Jootha… will see me move completely out of my space. It'll come as a complete shocker!"
In an industry that speaks only the language of money, it's heartening that Abraham isn't motivated by it. In fact, he's of a rare breed of actors who are willing to forgo the hefty pay cheques to ease the burden on the producers. So, Aashayein was done for absolutely nothing.
"That's true. Nagesh and I did it for free. As an actor it's very important to expand your horizon and do different films. Aashayein is that different film. It's a small film with a big thought."
Aashayein is also an ode to his mother. "She has been doing social work for 20-odd years. And I was able to relate to all the characters only because I've seen them through the social work my mother does." It's been an intense emotional journey for the actor as the film came his way while he was going through a rough patch, personally. "When I took the project I decided to marry the two. So, I didn't even need to act!"
So, while he's attempting different kinds of cinema, Abraham is unashamed to admit wanting the best of both worlds: box-office success and critical acclaim. But he's also willing to make exceptions, once in a while, for films like Aashayein.
"At the cost it's being made, I'm not concerned about its commercial success. I'll be happy if one person walks in and comes out saying it has moved him. For me, that's the success of Aashayein."
And with such bold steps grows the desire to "become bigger, as an actor. To do films that I believe in. Even though No Smoking failed, I got respect for my performance. Water didn't work in India but won international acclaim."
And with each film, he's given away a little bit of himself. "Be it Aashayein, New York or Dostana, each one has taken some amount of time and energy, blood and sweat." Not one to be daunted by lost projects, namely Karan Johar's Stepmom remake - We Are Family, Abraham's happy his other projects are gearing up for release.
Apart from concentrating on the finer nuances of meaningful cinema, he is keen to indulge his wild side for the promotional extravaganza that's mandatory for a film's release. And if it allows him to indulge in dare-devil stunts then he couldn't be more elated.
"I actually climbed a (70-feet) billboard for Jhoota... It's fun, it's exciting." And it's also his secret way of attempting to fill the ‘action hero' slot that is lying vacant after Akshay Kumar took on the clown's hat. "It's my way of building an action-hero image."
Setting aside his personal achievements, Abraham concedes that sensationalism does work if one's looking for film publicity. "My stunt caught everyone's attention and that's what we wanted. It was the launch of a new title after we felt a section of the media didn't understand "1-800 Love" or the concept of toll-free numbers."
Abraham is also promoting Jootha... on the telly's famed road show MTV Roadies. "I play Sid (the character), who helps contestants bend the rules to get ahead."
With most B-towners obsessed about acquiring luxury brands and parading them, Abraham is refreshingly grounded, giving flip-flops a style status, equally, maybe to a Louis Vutton! "I'm not a brand baby. I'd wear a T-shirt, jeans and team it with chappals."
And this dressing style evolved after he was unable to find any Bollywood actor whom he could emulate as a child. "I had to look at James Dean, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt because there were no Indian counterparts. I want to be the person that college kids can afford to follow."
Though he claims to be low maintenance and dislikes spending on himself - "I don't wear a watch, ring, not even pluck my eyebrows" - we sense a weakness when it comes to the wheels. His mighty Audi Q7 isn't exactly affordable.
"Good point! But it's an off-shoot of my association with Audi. In fact, I get a free upgrade on my car every year. So, it's actually maintained like a Honda Civic."
A mascot of healthy living, Abraham has glamorised fitness. You actually sense a marketing hangover, from his initial stint in the corporate world, when he talks about packaging himself the right way.
"John Abraham is known for athletics, for sports, for fitness, for biking. I wanted to work around the things that I like, things that I believe are good for my audience." And an extension of these efforts, sees him promoting sporting events. Apart from being the ambassador of the Mumbai marathon, he's also rallying for a football league, along with ace-footballer Baichung Bhutia.
"Football has always been in my blood. I've played for my school and college. And if not for MBA, I would've played for my country."
Call it the eccentricities of an artist or pure madness, Abraham is thrilled about insuring his derrière. "I've been told that I've asset value (pun intended?). So, I won't deny it. The talks are on."
Now, there's more to Abraham than just his movies or well chiselled body. He's a man unafraid to speak his mind and question the wrong. And often, it's got him into a lot of trouble. "I've been asked to refrain from speaking up. But I think it's time we did."
He's equally eloquent about his dislike for conniving politicians as well as his two-faced co-stars. "Some actors visit NGOs just before their film releases. These are the most contrived people."
Even the sudden Hollywood fad has made Abraham uneasy. "We all talk big but no one does anything. It's better to do your work quietly and do it right." Abraham doesn't approve of B-town romances. "It's sad the way some couples project their romance or the way the media projects it. I feel sorry for them."
But amid all this negativity, there's one actor who Abraham respects, immensely. "Aamir Khan is the only actor who has made the most sensible choices and I thank him for promoting good cinema."
In fact, Khan's initiatives have prompted Abraham to consider taking up film production too. "I will produce films that are high on content, irrespective of whether I am in it or not." And, like Khan, Abraham credits his audience with some intellect and is willing to head to the theatre to learn his downfalls. "It's important to face it because it helps us grow."
He's refreshingly individualistic, without attempting to ape his Bollywood contemporaries. So, Abraham's decision to skip the Twitter circuit, even though the entire Bollywood brigade is on a virtual overdrive, isn't surprising.
"It's an effective tool to reach out but our fraternity, and I don't mean to sound disrespectful, isn't aware of how to communicate. I wouldn't want my audience to know when I am getting into the bathroom. I'd rather keep my private space private." That said, he's aware of the need to stay connected with his audience and hence has created a personal website (www.johnabraham.com).
Despite having a clean image, we can't help but question his choice to endorse a fairness cream. "You are absolutely justified in being upset. Let me explain that fairness in India is a colloquial word for clearing blemishes, dark spots and oily skin. So, the minute your skin is clear, you are known to be fairer. And in my commercial I've not used the word fairness."
Moving on, we are eager to find out whether his status will be elevated from being the gorgeous Bipasha Basu's "diamond supplier" to something more concrete. But, the actor clarifies that the two aren't ready to take the plunge, just yet.
"We are very comfortable in the space we are in. We'll probably cross the bridge when we come to it." Abraham, even, chalks out a whole new meaning to the clichè "diamonds are a girl's best friend".
The way he sees it, it's just investment. "I tell Bipasha that if she wants to walk out on me, she'd get a good value for the diamonds." Unlike most Bollywood romances, theirs has been a mature one. "Ours is like any normal relationship. We always agree to disagree. We lead separate lives and are happy in our space."
So, while she's busy making her mark in Bollywood, he's concentrating on his films. And along the way, they take time out to support each other. "She's my biggest critic. She'll tell me instantly whether a film will work or not."
It's his unconventional thinking and uninhibited ways that makes him so desirable in an industry filled with numerous pretentious faces. So, here's hoping his films back him up just as well!
The family man
He's an outsider in B-town but the lack of a big daddy to spoil him silly hasn't really bothered John Abraham. He's comfortable in his skin, devoting a lot of time to his family, crediting his parents for instilling good values and ethics in him.
"I get my eccentricities from my mother's side and the brains from my father's side. My father has taught me that credibility is more important than any amount of money. And I always work for acceptance, for people to understand that I am honest. He's also taught me to be generous. We do a lot of charity without announcing it in the media."
True to his Malayali roots (his father is a Keralite), Abraham is keen on taking on regional cinema. Despite getting numerous offers, he hasn't signed on the dotted line yet.
"Malayalam cinema, just like Bengali films, has far more depth than conventional cinema. But unfortunately, conventional cinema is the money spinner, so we need to draw a balance," he says.
He's even found a new friend in South Indian actress Shobana. "She respects what I do and even sends me films to watch," Abraham adds.
