By Hindustan Times
After nine years in Bollywood, John Abraham’s ready for a transformation of image. He insists that Shootout In Wadala and the flicks that follow, including three of his home productions, I Me Aur Main, Jaffna and Kala Ghoda, will bring on a more human John, in place of a larger-than-life superhero with a body to compare. “As Soojit (director of Vicky Donor and Jaffna) pointed out, I now not need to stand out in a crowd. I’ll be an everyman from now on,” promises the star producer.
While Jaffna is a political drama set in Sri Lanka, and has him pairing up with two female actors who’re yet to be cast, Kala Ghoda, directed by the late Basu Bhattacharya’s son Aditya, is a gloomy comedy written by Akshat Varma of Delhi Belly (2011) fame. Set in Mumbai’s underbelly, it revolves around two cops. John plays the volatile, no-nonsense Dilawar Khan. “He’s unlike any cop you’ve seen before within the way he speaks, dresses and his quirks. There’s a special edge to him, and I’m definitely not beefing up for the role as is being speculated,” he asserts.
Kunal Roy Kapoor plays the goofy and bumbling cop. “It’s a terrific author-backed role, you’re going to like him,” says John. The film may have action shot in real locations in real-time. John seems super excited: “Producing films like these not just help me expand my repertoire, but will give me credibility as an actor.”
Farah did speak to me ages ago...
“Farah (director Farah Khan) did speak to me about her next movie, Happy New Year, but that was ages ago. There’s been no talk since, so I’m slightly lost about where rumours about me doing her film or Bodyguard director Siddique’s next are coming from,” says John. “I’d like to work with Farah up to Shah Rukh (Khan), whom I’ve always looked up to, if the chance presented itself.”
