John Abraham says that being a producer, he is in a position to not only back, but also be a part of different kinds of cinema
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 3, 2019)

Just like his filmography as an actor is a perfect cocktail with a blend of genres, John Abraham, like a skilled mixologist, has always tried to mix up his film choices as a producer, too. While his maiden tryst with production happened with Vicky Donor in 2012 (that launched Ayushmann Khurrana in Bollywood), he went on to back ‘different’ films such as Madras Café (2013), Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018) and this year’s Batla House.

John, on his part, believe that joining the producer’s bandwagon has put him in a strong position. “By becoming a producer, I’ve put myself in a position to back as well as be a part of different kinds of cinema. Earlier, I couldn’t do it as I didn’t have a choice. But when I became a producer, I decided that I’m going to speak my voice and tell the stories that I want to. That’s why I’ve done films like Vicky Donor, Madras Café, Parmanu and Batla House. I really enjoy this space as an actor-producer,” explains John, whose next production, Attack, has recently been announced.

There has been an evident shift of sorts in terms of his film choices after Dostana (2008). “Again, I think what has changed, is me becoming a producer. After I became one, I started choosing films that I really wanted to do,” says the actor, adding that his decision to also dabble into production directly affected his journey as an actor, too.

“I strongly feel that when other people (filmmakers) saw and felt that I can ‘think’, they decided to offer me films that actually put me in the space of a ‘thinking actor’. That’s why, if you see my filmography — before and after becoming a producer — my trajectory as an actor is far better now than how it was earlier,” he says.

Now, as John readies to “get back into the full-fledged action mode” with the 2020 Independence Day weekend release, Attack, he seems content with what’s on his plate.

“If you look at the content that I’ve created over the last three to four years or the next seven or eight films that I’ve lined up, they are all in a very sweet spot for me,” he says.

Another element that seems to have found its way into John’s films, and has impressed the audience, too, is his love for India. “See, I love my country a lot. You can say that I’m obsessed about India. But it’s clear to me that I’m a patriotic person, and not nationalistic. Nationalism or being nationalistic is loving everything about your country, irrespective of what it does. And patriotism is when you love everything about your country because of its virtues, but at the same time, you also have the capability of criticising things that are not right,” he says.