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Journalism of Courage
Whose idea was it to make you wear yellow swimming trunks?
I wanted to wear black trunks and come out of the Miami water but Karan Johar, a marketing maverick, insisted on yellow. He told me the colour will make a difference. I remember when we shot the scene; Karan told me that this will be the shot of the film.
Did you have any reference point for the shot?
When I was walking out of the water, I wanted it to be just like Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. He looked so cool; he wasn8217;t showing off his body. It looked as if this is what he does everyday. I wanted to evoke the same response so I refrained from flexing that would have made me look like a bodybuilder.
I didn8217;t even think about it. I was so convinced with the script that I had no qualms in getting in the rhythm of the whole 8216;pretending to be gay8217; thing. Also since Abhishek Bachchan and I are such good friends off-screen, there wasn8217;t any awkwardness between us.
Not even when you8217;re doing a close dance with Abhishek?
Not even then. I was so comfortable with him. I8217;m so glad it was Abhishek. He8217;s such a great guy and made the whole experience of Dostana so special for me.
So are you ready to do a full-on gay film, like Brokeback Mountain?
If I8217;m convinced about the script and the role, I have no qualms. I8217;d love to do a film like Milk where Sean Penn plays a gay activist. You know, a homosexual film can be more than just about two guys kissing. It can be about a cause too like Philadelphia.
If the role demanded would you kiss a man on-screen?
I haven8217;t thought about it. I8217;ll cross this bridge when I come to it.
Do guys make passes at you?
It does happen and I deal with it the same way I would if a woman had made a pass at me. I respect them but I8217;m awkward at accepting compliments anyway. I just give my crooked smile and move on.
What does girlfriend Bipasha Basu think of your gay act?
She loves the songs. She is excited to see the film. Bipasha has always been bang-on about my films. She has a very good feeling for Dostana.
Must say your dancing skills have improved tremendously especially in the Desi Girl track. What happened?
I had gulped down a drink called Energize and it was as good as 20 cups of coffee. My choreographer, Farah Khan, told me to go all out and I did. Later on, she told me that it looked as if I was possessed.
When is Aashayein releasing?
It8217;s a very small film, made with Rs 3 crore. Aashayein needs the right kind of a release and a separate marketing strategy. It just keeps getting pushed because we don8217;t want to release it between the biggies. I8217;ve given it my blood, sweat and energy for over a year. It8217;s a very special film for me and I8217;m dying to see how the audience reacts to it.
What changes have you observed in yourself in the five years that you8217;ve been in the industry?
I8217;m still unsure about myself. There has been no change in my mindset. I guess, every actor yearns to create a space for himself which I8217;ve succeeded in. Some actors are on the X axis and some on the Y, John Abraham is on the Z axis. My audience likes me. People tell me I8217;m a star. But I yearn to be known as a good actor that8217;s why I do films like No Smoking, Zinda, Water and Kabul Express. Today my audience knows what is a John Abraham film.
What is a John Abraham film?
It has to have an edge. It can be a total psycho crazy film like No Smoking that nobody understood or it can be an edgy romantic comedy like Dostana. I just want to experiment; if it8217;s a highway then I8217;m an off-roader.
