Double Whammy

While Abhishek Bachchan walked away with the laughs,Abraham’s success was delicately poised on his posterior.

The box-office success of Kabir Khan’s New York (it netted Rs 55 crore till July first week) top-lining Abraham,Neil Nitin Mukesh and Katrina Kaif,could change the perception about an actor dismissed as a poster-boy (‘Gone

Abraham’,as a film magazine chose to call him),to one who could go beyond his physicality.

Khan is generous in his praise: “Sam had to be someone with a certain presence and I could only think of John playing the part. He has certainly matured as an actor. It also helps that he is incredibly hardworking and sincere. Kabul Express was shot on the run with the Taliban at our heels.”

“It’s a relief,” says Abraham about the accolades,“because Dostana was a lot about my body and looks whereas this is about performance.” Even directors dismissive of him as an actor were willing to concede that he was “not bad” or effective in the film. “Some people were pleasantly surprised and some unpleasantly so,” adds Abraham,37.

The first indication of the industry’s reaction was when Garam Masala co-star Akshay Kumar,who was celebrating the big opening of Kambakkht Ishq,extended the welcome to John and the cast of New York by inviting them to the party. It’s a different matter that Abraham could not make it due to a physiotherapy session but the Khiladi Kumar and brawn Abraham come together for a film tentatively titled Desi Boys,which will be directed by Rohit Dhawan (director David Dhawan’s son).

Quite like his choice of films,wherein for every masala film that utilises his perfect 10 physique to advantage,Abraham has never shied from experiments Taxi No. 9211,Water and No Smoking being examples. As he admits,these experiments were perhaps a “little too early” to be taken in the right perspective. But there are no regrets.

Anurag Kashyap,he lets on,is a friend and “someone I consider in the realm of genius. He has a kink in his thoughts that I absolutely love. His ideas,when they work,can create magic. And when they don’t,the effect can be devastating because a lot of people don’t get them,but regardless of the box-office success or failure,I would like to be a part of his films.”

His wish-list of directors he wants to work with is unexpected too. Kabir Khan,who gave him New York,is a favourite. “I would like to work with him all over again,” says the actor. Nishikant Kamat is someone the actor is excited about working with. And then there are the old favourites Tarun Mansukhani (yes,he is doing Dostana 2),Yash Raj Films,Milan Luthria,Abbas Tyrewala and Mahesh Bhatt “if he ever directs again”.

Abraham’s fascinating advantage is that he has a popular appeal among women and young teens,a spillover from his days as a model,regardless of the fate of his films that holds him in good stead even when his films fail to impress.

But naturally,the actor wants to grow his appeal. “I want to touch everybody. I don’t want to be the guy hiding behind dark glasses and bodyguards.”