NO parents in the film industry, no hype about his splash, yet John Abraham got noticed in his very first film. Today, his kitty is sufficiently full. Vickey Lalwani caught up with him at the music launch of the forthcoming Lakeer.

Excerpts from the interview:

Yes. The history of models in the film industry has been a no-win situation. Let’s face it. So far, models were not been considered as serious actors. It is only now after Dino Morea, Arjun Rampal and myself have done some good work, that people are changing their perception about models. Post-Jism, my looks became secondary, people began talking about my acting potential. Believe me, there are people who have been apologetic towards me after seeing Jism.

The same people wanted to cast me in a miniscule role in their movies in my early days. They have realised that they would have made more money if they had launched me. Today, they have turned round to offer me lead roles. Imagine!

Exactly. There were even some people who were not convinced that I was signing a heroine-oriented film so early in my career. They hinted, rather advised, a commercial launch in a glossy film padded with usual formulae. But now that the film has clicked, those very guys feel that I couldn't have asked for more. A simple case of 'nothing succeeds like success'.

That's okay. No actor can give 100 per cent hits, howsoever big or talented he may be. Besides, there were some reasons why Saaya flopped.

Basically, two reasons. Saaya was released against Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot. Ram Gopal Varma is a big name, so people headed first for Bhoot. That took away the initial opening. Secondly, Saaya was promoted as a horror film. Now, there was no horror in Saaya. A simple case of wrong timing and bad marketing.

(laughs) Lakeer is really something special. It's not that I am praising this film because I am sitting at its music launch now. For the first time, people will see John Abraham letting his hair down and dancing. I play Suniel Shetty's younger brother who means everything to me; my parents are dead. When producer N. Ahmed narrated this film to me, I quite liked it. Then, he made me listen to the music which is by A.R. Rahman. The tunes bowled me over. Plus, with Sunny Deol in it, how do you expect me to take a long time in giving my consent? Frankly, I need a certain kind of support system, like Sunny Deol and A.R.Rahman to lift me up. I have registered, but now I must take-off sharply.

Hundred per cent. Don't get me wrong when I say that I need a take-off. I am lucky that I have got to play a wide variety of roles in a short span of time. In Jism, I played an obsessive lover. In Saaya, I played a depressed guy who has lost his wife. In Lakeer, I play a shy, romantic guy who finds it difficult to propose to his lady-love. I am making a conscious effort not to be repetitive.

Sunny is one of the most punctual and disciplined actors that I have come across. He always came on the sets on the dot, which is quite unlike of what I have heard of some other senior actors. Besides, he never got annoyed if and when Sohail Khan- my co-star in Lakeer- and I felt we needed another take.

Apart from Lakeer, I have Pooja Bhatt's Paap, then I have Venus film Elaan, Indra Kumar's Mumkin, 'Suneel Darshan's film (untitled) and Sanjay F Gupta's film (untitled). I have a very interesting role in Paap wherein I teach the heroine to boycott the saintly ways of life propagated by her father.

(Interrupts) Sorry to disappoint some females, but that's the wild imagination of a journalist. I don't know who started this all. Believe me, it's all rubbish.

How do you feel being called a sex symbol?

It’s flattering. Who wouldn’t like to be called sexy? Any man who says that he doesn't enjoy that kind of attention would be a liar.

Of course I do. I want a wife and kids waiting for me when I reach home after a hard day's work. The D-day is not far. I just need to make myself a little more secure financially.

Not at all. I would be delighted if I take home the award, but definitely not dejected if I don't. If I start thinking too deeply about awards, I think I'll lose my focus on work. And that is the last thing I want to do.

Nobody knows. To safeguard myself, I have no delusions. The breaking of a delusion can be unnerving. If the rosy picture of life crumbles into the dust of reality, you stand a mere horrified spectator. There it lies in front of you- your belief seeming so fake now. So why should I have stars in my eyes? I am merely following the policy of 'never hurt anyone' and I am sure He will take care of all those who try to cross my path. TWF

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