Bollywood actor John Abraham has been a part of the Hindi film industry for over two decades now. Known initially for his fitness, looks, and unique swag, the actor has delivered several successful films since his debut in 2003. However, the journey was far from easy.

In a recent interview, John opened up about the criticism and challenges he faced as an outsider in Bollywood, revealing that he was often singled out early in his career.

“Being an outsider made it tougher”

John shared that before him, only Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar were widely labelled as successful outsiders in the industry. After his arrival, he too began facing intense scrutiny.

According to John, the criticism started right from his debut and continued for years. Yet, instead of letting it affect him negatively, he chose a different mindset.

John Abraham on Competition vs Collaboration

Talking about his approach to working with other actors, John said:

“The best way to train your mind is to realize that you’re not competing, but complementing. I’ve improved by working with my co-stars.”

He mentioned working comfortably with stars like Varun Dhawan and Abhishek Bachchan, adding that mutual respect and harmony on set matter more than rivalry.

“They see me as someone who complements them. I never bring competition into my work. I’m very comfortable, and that shows on screen,” he added.

What’s next for John Abraham?

On the work front, John revealed that after his recent projects, he is now keen to explore comedy films. In an era dominated by sequels, the actor also expressed interest in being part of “No Smoking 2”, if it ever materializes.

Apart from that, John is also working on the film Tariq and is preparing for an upcoming project with filmmaker Rohit Shetty.