Sunday, June 14, 2009

Playing myself is tough: John Abraham

MUMBAI: Bollywood hunk John Abraham is playing himself in "Fillum City" and says it is tougher than doing other roles."I'm playing John Abraham. And believe you me, it's not easy. I keep looking for myself in the character and find there are so many things that I want to keep for myself. I'm trying to act and dress as I do in real life. It's tough because you're constantly trying to 'act' like yourself," John told.
The film is being made by debutant director Deven Khote.
John is also not happy with reports about him signing an international project. He wishes people wouldn't put out misinformation about him."I believe websites have put out stories that I'm doing an international film called 'American Empire'.
I haven't even read the script. So where's the question of my doing it? Doing international films isn't a burning ambition for me," he said.Though an enthusiastic voter, John couldn't be part of Karan Johar's short-film featuring most of Bollywood's youth icons to promote voting awareness. But he is hoping to team up with the Karan and director Tarun Mansukhani in the second instalment of "Dostana"."Would you believe I was part of that project from the start.
I sat with the director Tarun Mansukhani and Karan and we discussed the idea. But on the day we were to shoot, I was down with a viral fever. I'd have loved to work with Tarun. He's a wonderful boy. Hopefully, we'll be doing the 'Dostana' sequel shortly," he said.

John Abraham launches Garnier MEN

Garnier the skin and hair expert is launching Garnier MEN, a new range of products designed specifically for men. India will pioneer the launch of this new brand worldwide. Garnier MEN will "take care” of the tough male skin with a line of products that combine a high performance unique formulae that fuse nature, science and technology.
Garnier Men will launch with the PowerLight range which offers products enriched with brightening and anti- pigmenting ingredients providing natural energy for male skin.The introduction of Garnier MEN will cater to the booming Indian market of image conscious consumers by uniquely delivering effective, easy to use, high quality men's products which protect and enhance the skin.
Garnier also announced the big news, John Abraham as the brand ambassador for Garnier MEN. John will be seen endorsing Garnier MEN in an exciting new print and television campaign, which will capture John’s attitude towards grooming and promises to showcase John in a new refreshing way.Garnier Men is a brand that is about natural energy that fuels your skin. John Abraham represents this value for Garnier. He’s got the charisma, and the attitude. He is the face of the new Indian man who is confident and has got tremendous self-belief. Garnier is young and edgy, and John is an icon for the youth. He wants the best for himself but he is also fun, someone who enjoys being himself.
PowerLight is Garnier’s first launch in the men grooming category. It promises performance you can measure. John Abraham helps the brand build on this property. Garnier is proud to have John Abraham as the face of Garnier Men. Who better than the man himself to announce Garnier’s most ambitious launch yet. At the occasion of the launch, John said, “Garnier is a brand that is young and edgy, emitting positive energy. It believes in Taking Care – taking care of yourself and the world around. These qualities appealed to me when I decided to become their brand ambassador”“Today Indian men are big time into grooming. They look after themselves and want to look good too. But there are not enough products to meet their growing needs. At least not of international quality.
PowerLight is Garnier’s first launch in the men’s grooming category. This product gives complete skin care to a man. It mositurises the skin and makes it look better over time. PowerLight has also got SPF15. It protects your skin when you go out in the sun and prevents dullness of skin. I liked that fact about this product.”“When I act, I am always trying to improve my performance. The product too promises that using it daily helps improve your skin’s quality. Looking good is about self-belief. It is about the confidence to be yourself. So that when you go out there, you know that you have got what it takes.”
Today’s consumer is aware of the different skin types, and the different conditions to which they are exposed to on a daily basis. The usage of the Garnier Men’s skin care range gives one fresh, soft, fair, oil-free, sun-protected and moisturized skin. Among the first products to be launched under Garnier MEN, is the Power Light range for men which offers products enriched with brightening and anti- pigmenting natural ingredients providing natural energy to fuel your skin.

John Abraham says goodbye to ‘Stepmom’

John Abraham, who was seen in Karan Johar’s hit film Dostana, has turned down the ace filmmaker’s offer to play the lead in the Hindi version of Chris Columbus’ 1998 comedy-drama Stepmom. Arjun Rampal is said to be playing Ed Harris’ part in the movie.“Karan had almost convinced John to do the role.He even promised that the husband’s role in the Indian Stepmom would be far more substantial than what Ed Harris did in the original. But John is at a stage in his career where he wants to make all the right career moves. He feels as an outsider in the industry he has made a place that must be respected,” a source close to John told IANS.

First Saif Ali Khan, then John was approached to play the lead opposite Kajol and Kareena Kapoor in the desi version of Stepmom. In the original, Harris teamed up with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon.“John is finally learning to say no to projects even if they come from big banners.In Dostana, he went along with the sales-pitch that Abhishek was the ‘actor’ while John was the ‘body’. But in Dostana 2, John will make sure he will be the actor and the body. He’s working hard on it,” said the source.The latest on Stepmom is that Dharma Productions has yet to acquire the rights to remake it in Hindi.

The modalities for that are still being worked out. Until the contract is signed I wouldn’t want to comment on it. Stepmom was released in the same year as my directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and I loved it. I look forward to developing it if the modalities are worked out.You of course know Kajol and Kareena Kapoor are expected to play the two roles,” said Karan. Arjun, who did a walk-on part in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, will wait as he has agreed to step into Stepmom.

John Abraham plays himself in Fillum City

June 9, 2009 - 11:20 IST
In his new film Fillum City directed by debutant Deven Khote, John Abraham plays himself."I'm playing John Abraham. And believe you me, it's not easy. I keep looking for myself in the character and find there're so many things that I want to keep for myself. I'm trying to act and dress as I do in real life. It's tough because you're constantly trying to 'act' like yourself."
Not that John is a private person. But he does wish people wouldn't put out misinformation about him. "I believe the websites have put out stories that I'm doing an international film called American Empire. I haven't even read the script. So where's the question of my doing it? Doing international films isn't a burning ambition for me." Though an enthusiastic voter, John couldn't be part of Karan Johar's short-film featuring most of Bollywood's youth icons to promote voting awareness. "Would you believe I was part of that project from the start? I sat with the director Tarun Mansukhani and Karan and we discussed the idea. But on the day we were to shoot, I was down with a viral fever. I'd have loved to work with Tarun. He's a wonderful boy. Hopefully, we'll be doing the Dostana sequel shortly."

John Abraham fractures his foot

John Abraham seems to be running through a rough patch. The most recent mishap, and perhaps the most major of them all happened on Saturday when during shooting, John fractured his foot.

It happened while shooting a day-long cricket match for David Dhawan’s Hook Ya Crook.
Says a close friend of John, “The hard ball shot straight through the air and bang into John’s right foot and he heard a distinct crack. John knew something had gone awfully wrong in his foot. But he continued shooting throughout the day because he didn’t want to disrupt David’s schedule which required special permission for outdoor shooting.”

It was only after the day’s shooting that John, by then cringing in pain, he sat down to examine the damage.

“The foot had swollen to twice its normal size. It wasn’t just a pulled muscle or a torn ligament as John had hoped. It was a full-blown fracture. And by playing cricket on the injured foot John made it worse,” says the friend.

After pack-up John walked to his car, drove off to the doctor who finally told John what he suspected the whole day.

Verdict passed, John was rushed to the hospital in acute pain. Now his foot is in a cast for a month.

Fortunately for the actor there’s no shooting to be completed. The next one month is devoted to acting workshops for Abbas Tyrewala which John can somehow limp through.

But all his friends and family agree the last week has been tough on John.
“He was down with a severe viral fever, followed by the whole unsavoury link-up with Katrina Kaif. Then John lost a favourite Uncle. And now his foot is fractured. Hopefully this is the climax of his crises,” says the friend.

Says John, “I really wouldn’t like to talk about it. But yes, I’m in a lot of pain. Fortunately no film is going to get affected.”

Bipasha Basu got to know about John’s injury on Sunday morning. John had sent her on an sms about his condition on Saturday night. But she had already gone to sleep. Now she’s expected to rush back as soon as possible.

“It’s sad. But John was foolish to keep on playing when his foot was hurt instead of getting it checked.”

Filmography as Actor

Happy Birthday 2009
Is Pyaar Ko kya Naam Doon 2009
Hook Ya Crook 2009 - Viraj Pradhan
New York 2009- Sameer
Little Zizou 2009- Arjun
Dostana 2009- Kunal
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal 2007- Sunny Bhasin
No smking 2007- K
Salaam-E-Ishq: A Tribute to Love 2007- Ashutosh
Kabul Express 2006- Suhel Khan
Baabul 2006- Rajat Verma
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna 2006- Special Appearance
Shikha 2006 - Special appearance
Taxi Number 9211 -2006- Jay Mittal
Garam Masala 2005- Sam
Elaan 2005 - Abhimanyu
Kaal 2005 - Krish Thapar
Karam 2005 - John
Viruddh 2005- Amar Patwardhan
Wate 2005 - Narayana
Zinda 2005 - Rohit Chopra
Dhoom 2004 - Kabir
Aetbaar 2004 - Aryan Trivedi
Lakeer - Saahil
Madhoshi 2004 - Aman
Jism 2003- Kabir Lal
Paap 2003 - Shiven
Saaya 2003 - Dr. Akash (Akki)

John Abraham Biography

Bollywood actor John Abraham – dimples, six-pack, farenheit topping hotness factor et al – bagged the Gladrags Manhunt Contest, Bipasha Basu and some good movies in a decade of being in the limelight.
Puraani Yaadein: Fans can wish John Abraham a happy birthday on the 17th December. He was born in 1972 to a Syrian Christian-Parsi family in Alwaye, Kerala. His father is Abraham John while his mother is Phiroza Irani. He has a younger brother Alan. His Parsi name is Farhan. He studied at the Bombay Scottish School. He went higher up the education ladder at the Jai Hind College, graduating with a B.A in Economics. He also did an MMS from Mumbai Educational Trust.He entered into a career in media, working with Time & Space Media Entertainment Promotions Ltd and later with Enterprises Nexus.This line of work changed when he won the Gladrags Manhunt Contest and went to win second place in the Manhunt International held in Singapore. He soon started working in commercials while taking up an acting course at the Kishore Namit Kapoor’s acting school. He is associated with brands like Diet Pepsi, Yamaha, Castrol Power, Wrangler, Clinic All Clear and Fast Track.John Abraham and Bipasha Basu are among the most good-looking and popular couples in Bollywood. He was going out with Riya Sen and more recently was linked with Vidya Balan and Amrita Rao which he denied.
Warrior of the Wild: John Abraham is actively involved with social communities like PETA and Habitat for Humanity. He recently addressed the issue of elephants entering urban areas and the need to contain that issue. His efforts earned him an ‘Eco-Warrior’ award from the Vice President of India.
Jism and then some! John Abraham’s debut into movies was in 2003 with the steamy Jism with Bipasha Basu, a story about seduction and deception. He was nominated for the Filmfare Best Debut Award. His second movie Saaya with Amrita Rao received fair reviews. In 2004, his fans got their fill of the handsome actor in movies like Aetbaar, Paap and finally, Dhoom which had him cast as a villain with slick action and racing bikes, which incidentally is his passion off-screen too! Year 2005, saw him in the comedy Priyadarshan’s Garam Masala and Deepa Mehta’s controversial Water. His role as Narayana, a follower of Gandhi who falls in love with a widow, received good reviews. He appeared as a villain again in Zinda in 2006; with Nana Patekar in Taxi Number 9211; a guest role in Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna; Babul with Amitabh Bacchan and Salman Khan; Kabul Express set against war-torn Afghanistan.His visibility was again high in 2007 with Salaam-e-Ishq, Hattrick, No Smoking and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He woo-ed Abhishek Bachhan and Priyanka Chopra in Dostana in 2008 that looked at homosexuality or atleast faking it.
John Abraham’s latest: His star potential is being made the most of by film-makers. In 2009, he will be starring in Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein about gambling; Sooni Taraprewala’s Little Zizou, Aditya Chopra’s New York; Hook Ya Crook which is a movie about cricket. And 2010, will see the release of 1-800-Love, Exclusion and Luna, which is by Deepa Mehta and stars the likes of Rachel Weisz and the legendary Dustin Hoffman.