Actor John Abraham believes that irrespective of where one comes from, they have their battles to fight, and it’s their decision whether they want to be bitter or gracious about it
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 14, 2020)

Insider and outsider — these two terms are the buzz words today. Whether you can make it big in the industry without any connections is the raging question. But John Abraham, who falls in the ‘outsider’ category refuses to tag himself.

“I don’t subscribe to such terms. This is your Twitter trending culture. I believe every individual, be it an insider or outsider, has his/her own battles to fight. Whether you are gracious about it or bitter, it’s your decision, but you have to fight this battle. Every person has to prove a point, either you complain about it, or put your head down and bloody do your job. I am clear I have come here to do my job, and I will do it well,” he says.

We ask the 47-year-old what makes him not subscribe to such terms, and he says it is because he is not a “follower”. “I create my own standards. Did I come from outside the industry and make it on my own? Yes. It’s a great example for people. Do I think people from the industry are gracious? They are damn bloody gracious. Are all of them gracious? Maybe not, but that exists everywhere in every industry,” reasons the actor.

Recalling his early days as a model, he goes on to tell us, “When I was a model, I was an outsider, most models are. People were gracious, but were some pushing me away? Yes. It exists everywhere, you have to create your own path. You cannot be bitter here”

In his 20 years in the industry, the actor says he has never been late a single day. “I respect everyone’s time and money. You don’t need to be talented, and hard working to come on time, be honest and credible, and do your job.”

In the phase where he was looking to make a mark, did he ever lose out on a project to a star kid, or does he feel they get more opportunities? Abraham says, “I can only answer this in one way. If you don’t get chances, you create your own. I did that. Am I bitter about the fact that someone from the industry got more opportunities than I did? Not at all. I am grateful that I created my own chances and had self conviction. I give credit only to that. I can also sob, cry, beat my chest and say I have been wronged, but that’s not my narrative, that’s not what I am made of. I am made of stronger mettle. For me, if you don’t get chances, you create your own. If you don’t belong to a world, you create your own world.”