John Abraham on issues plaguing us and ways to tackle them, being non-confrontational and his action -packed love story
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 3, 2018)

After giving over a year to your home production, Parmanu, you’ve been doing fi lms back-to-back. Satyameva Jayate will be followed by RAW: Romeo Akbar Walter and Batla House, which rolls in September.
Good content had accumulated, RAW and Batla House are exceptional scripts. And I’m happy I’m busy not just for the sake of being busy.

Satyameva Jayate touches on issues like corruption and molestation. Is hardcore violence the way to tackle them?
Satyameva Jayate is a clap-worthy, dialogue-baazi commercial film and as an audience, we sometimes like to be a part of a make-believe world where we can see our wishful thinking come true. I’m not endorsing violence, but I feel that we’ve become too sophisticated in the dealing with these issues. My character Veer is a vigilante who handles things in a certain way which I think will resonate with our audience. And there’s an antidote in Manoj Bajpayee’s character, DCP Shivansh, who believes what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.

You’re a big guy yet one doesn’t hear of John Abraham getting into fistfights. How do you handle your anger?
I’ve never raised a finger on anyone, never got into a physical fight. I’m a peaceful, non-confrontational guy who can’t even raise his voice. When I’m angry I smile a lot and use sarcasm to vent. Someone told me once to always contain my anger and words for issues that need it rather than comment on everything. That can be emotionally draining and people stop taking you seriously. So, now I’m cautious of what I say and when I say it.

You have a reputation of being an honest guy who follows rules and believes in the system. How do you reconcile with what’s not right with the world?
You need to operate from within your own eco-system for it to percolate outside and bring about a change. I’m very clear with my producers, accountants and my team that we must never get into a murky space and cheat anyone. Corruption is everywhere and at every point of time. I’ve been told straight that if I don’t pay bribes, I won’t survive. I don’t agree. I may not be the most morally upright person in the world, but I know if I’m honest in what I’m doing, it can make a difference. I tell youngsters that they need to have a conscience and if their parents tell them any different, they should disagree.

You’re very protective of and respectful towards women. How do you react to the depravity we read about every day?
As a proud Indian, I have the right to look at things happening in the country critically. I say this on record that India is not a safe place for women and animals. We’re one of the few countries where we disrobe a woman by just looking at her. It’s sad and getting worse. I’m scared, and this makes me question the society and the country I live in. I don’t endorse capital punishment, but I believe we need to instil the fear of death in these sick men to ensure that they don’t commit such crimes.

Batla House touches on terrorism. What’s your personal take?
I’m a politically aware person yet I’m apolitical and I have no religious opinions. I come from small minorities from both my parents’ sides and consider myself an Indian first. I believe the world is getting polarised. Certain fringe elements will become very dominant and will subsequently represent a small part of a certain community with the result that a larger part of another community will react to that representation violently. It’s a domino effect and through films like Batla House and characters like Sanjeev Kumar Yadav we are addressing the issue head-on, telling people it’s important to pledge allegiance to your country rather than your religion.

What’s it like to play a RAW agent, usually an unsung hero?
Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) is a compelling script and Robbie Grewal is an intelligent and passionate director. It is an honest depiction of what happens to these agents when they’re moved around by the agency and the government. It delves into their personal lives, the finality of it all. Yes, they are unsung heroes. No one bothers about what happens to them. The other day, I read about this war veteran selling things on the road. We have no respect for our soldiers and tweeting our concerns, like many actors do, doesn’t make anyone any more concerned. Some of us do it from a space of honesty but some do it around the time of a film’s release to build an image. I’d like to clarify that I’m not saying this to promote Satyameva Jayate, for me these issues were a matter of concern before and will remain even after.

RAW will see you in eight looks…
It’s actually 18 looks and it is being shot in 80 locations. It’s a true story, we have deviated a bit but most of it is factually accurate.

Does it take you into the Kabul Express space?
It does. I’d gone to Afghanistan for Kabul Express just after the Taliban fall. I’m taking RAW to Kashmir now; a film set can’t replicate what you feel when you’re in a danger zone and I enjoy that even if there’s a possibility that you may not return. After Kabul Express, I wanted to shoot my next film in Baghdad and I was told I was losing my mind.

Will the Marathi film you’re producing, Savita Damodar Paranjpe, be remade in Hindi?
I saw the play years ago, it was compelling. When the director, (Swapna Waghmare Joshi) told me there was a possibility of acquiring the film rights, I gave the nod. Some of our best content comes out of Marathi, Malayalam and Bengali cinema because they don’t have the crutch of a big budget. This psychological thriller needed to be made in Marathi first but since the subject is relevant across India, we can adapt it in other languages.

What’s next on the production front?
Besides two web series, there’s a film titled Attack for now. It’s a love story with a lot of action which is fun because I love breaking my bones.

He plays the lead role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first Marathi production, Laal Ishq
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 14, 2016)

He is a popular Marathi film actor with several hits including Mumbai Pune Mumbai, Duniyadaari and Mitwa to his credit. On TV, Swwapnil Joshi has been part of successful Marathi shows like Eka Lagnachi Dusri Ghoshta and Madhu Ethe Ani Chandra Tithe. Hindi viewers know him from many serials like Krishna, Amanat, Bhabhi among others and Comedy Circus. Known as the Shah Rukh Khan of Marathi cinema, Swapnil will soon be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shabina Khan’s first Marathi venture, Laal Ishq. Here the loverboy of Marathi cinema talks about his upcoming film and the role that is all set to change his image.

What was your reaction when you were offered Laal Ishq?
The answer may sound clichéd, but it was a dream come true. Every actor, every technician, every director wants to be associated with the magic of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It was a great honour for me to get the lead role in his first Marathi venture. There are some moments you remember for a life time and the call I got from his office is one of those. I was sitting in my office when I got a call saying Shabina Khan wants to talk me. She told me that she and Bhansali were producing a Marathi film and would love to cast me in the lead role. Jab aisa phone aata hai toh na kehna ki gunjaish nahi hoti. Besides, the film is being directed by Swapna Waghmare-Joshi and our last film together — Mitwa — was a big hit. It has become a cult love story.

You have always played romantic roles in Marathi films. How will this be different?
Yes, this film is also romantic, but it’s a thriller. It will present me in a completely different light. It’s a genre I have never experimented with nor have I been exposed to. The way it is written, the characterisation, the presentation — everything is different. In fact, this will take me away from my image as a loverboy. This role might raise eyebrows as it has grey shades, which has not been associated with my body of work.

So, is this the most challenging role you have done so far?
I play a middle-class boy Yash Patwardhan, who becomes a huge film star and is trying to get back to his roots. What happens then is my part of the story. Every role comes with its own challenges, but by far this is the riskiest role I have done as an actor. Every actor has an image and after a point you start liking that image. Somewhere you get into a comfort zone. So, when you venture into an unknown territory, the outcome is challenging and scary at the same time. This role takes me there. I have this image of a boy-next-door and I have people calling me dada, (elder brother), bhau, and mothers think their sons should be like me. I have a completely positive image. Now, this film has me playing a shrewd character, that leads to darkness and cut-throatedness. I wouldn’t mind if I get a wicked image after this (laughs).

This film also sees Anjana Sukhani making her Marathi debut. How was it working with her?
I always say that it’s the heroines’ beauty and performance that enhances my work and image as a loverboy. Heroines have made me look handsome and Anjana is no exception. Language was a huge barrier for her, and it is especially, difficult to get the nuances right. But Anjana worked hard, she had a Marathi tutor and we did a lot of workshops. Also, everyday after pack-up, we used to sit for one-and-a-half hour working on her diction, the pauses and landing of a particular sentence. The entire unit was Maharashtrian so we used to tease her a lot too. We also taught her a few Marathi abuses though she didn’t know that! Overall, it’s been an enriching experience working with her.

You share a good onscreen chemistry with Mukta Barve and have given several hit films together. What is the secret?
We are extremely thick friends and it has nothing to do with how often we work or we don’t work. We can trust each other blindly and I think that forms a unique bonding, which translates into what you call chemistry. There is an X factor and whenever we get together it’s magic.

You are known as the Shah Rukh Khan of Marathi cinema because of the way you romance on screen —even some of your gestures are same!
(Laughs). I don’t think so, but if it is true, I take it as a compliment. I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh. For me, romance is SRK. But I must stop at that. All my life I have struggled hard to be Swwapnil Joshi. I am a realistic guy. Shah Rukh is huge. No doubt, he is inspiring and has a lot of energy. I have met him formally on a few occasions and done his TV show Ghar Ki Baatein. He is a gracious gentleman.

In recent times, Marathi cinema has made great strides and has attracted Bollywood filmmakers too. What is the reason?
Yes, on the one hand, it is becoming big and commercial and on the other hand it is not letting go of the rawness and earthiness of Marathi cinema. It’s a complete win-win situation. In Marathi, we have a saying, ‘haath ganganala lagave pan paay zameenevar rahave’. It means you should reach the sky but your feet should be on the ground. That’s exactly what is happening with Marathi cinema.

Is it true that you are doing Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty’s Marathi film?
I don’t want to comment on that.

What next?
I am doing an out-and-out comedy Fuggy with Subodh Bhave. A black comedy, it’s in the Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Andaz Apna Apna zone. I am excited about it because it’s the first time I will be doing that kind of comedy.