Why John Abraham said yes to 'The Diplomat'
What's the story
Bollywood actor-producer John Abraham is gearing up for his next film, The Diplomat, his first release of the year.
The thriller, based on a true story, is directed by Shivam Nair and will be released on March 14.
In an interview with PTI, Abraham discussed the film's plot and revealed why he said yes to the project.
Script
Abraham loved 'The Diplomat' script
Abraham hopes that the film will touch the hearts of the audience.
He revealed that the script immediately captivated him.
"I love geopolitics, so I thought this looks interesting, and I fell in love with what I read, credit to Ritesh Shah."
"For me, it's about the story; it's immaterial whether you see a woman or a man in front. If the painting is beautiful, all the characters look beautiful."
Preparation
Actor's intense preparation for the role
To get into the skin of his character, diplomat JP Singh, the Garam Masala actor trained with actor and acting coach Saurabh Sachdeva.
"Shivam put me through a drill. We went through reading with the entire cast of this film. Then, I took a break and met Saurabh Sachdeva, who coached me on this character."
"For three weeks, I was with Saurabh every day."
Abraham has earlier starred in thrillers such as Batla House and Madras Cafe.
Film's theme
'The Diplomat' explores societal challenges faced by women
Apart from its geopolitical intrigue, The Diplomat also sheds light on the societal challenges women face.
Abraham said he is concerned about the safety of women, children, and animals in India.
"Women, children and animals are not safe in India...Children and animals are not safe because there aren't too many laws. With regards to women, you need to have strict laws," he said.
Film industry insights
Abraham's perspective on storytelling and box office success
Abraham stressed good storytelling to ensure box office success.
He confessed to having given importance to box office numbers in the past but now understands the importance of well-written stories.
"We as an audience and trade are putting too much stress into the bifurcation of how the money is being spent...We've to cut all this noise, go back to writing, go back to where we started from and why we wanted to make films."
Career journey
'My career has been built on criticism, I enjoy it'
Reflecting on criticism, Abraham said, "These are obituaries that are written every day about me, and it's fine, I don't have a problem with it. My career has been built on criticism, I enjoy it."
"The only thing that's kept me going is my audience. People in the trade, producers, critics...they all judge you by numbers and I get all that... But the only people that have kept me going and have made me survive is my audience."