Film industry should be content-driven: John Abraham
John Abraham has said that writers are the real heroes of a movie and the time has come when Bollywood should be more content-oriented rather than being driven by stars.
|Last Updated: May 11, 2012, 01:27 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Mumbai: Model-turned actor John Abraham has said that writers are the real heroes of a movie and the time has come when Bollywood should be more content-oriented rather than being driven by stars.
"I feel screenplay writers are the heroes of a film and not necessarily the stars. Writers are now getting their due. I did the same in my first production `Vicky Donor` and our writer Juhi Chakraborty has done a wonderful job. I feel our industry should be less star-driven and focus more on the content," John told reporters here last evening.
"I hope producers stop giving undue importance to stars. It is just about casting right people and having faith in the cast. And it is important for actors to deliver and that is how they become stars," he said.
The actor-turned-producer is of the view that instead of remaking Hollywood movies, filmmakers should focus on something new or think of book adaptations.
"We need to stop remaking Hollywood films and need to start buying rights of books and creating good cinema. We are evolving as an industry," he mentioned.
He also complimented filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, in whose latest movie `Shootout at Wadala` John is playing the lead, for giving his writer Hussain the right due and focussing more on the content of a movie.
The content that comes out of this country and from filmmakers like Sanjay Gupta is at par with the west, it is just that we need to learn how to project it," he added.
"Also, I am not much in favour of the industry being called Bollywood because I want to believe that we are not trying to sound like Hollywood," John said.
Meanwhile, the actor is looking forward to Sanjay Gupta`s film, `Shootout at Wadala`, where he plays the role of gangster Manya Surve. The film dramatises the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police, where gangster Manya Surve was shot dead at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology in Wadala in 1982. The film is slated to release in January 2013.
"We are not trying to glorify villains in this film and we have shown them as they are. For the first time, I am playing an author-backed role. A lot of research went into the role...It is different high," the model-actor said.
"I am a strong believer in films like these and I am happy to be a part of it. It is shaping out beautifully," he expressed.
John said they had little information about Manya Surve, but there were details available about police officer Issac Bagwan, who shot the gangster. Based on the information, the research was conducted and Manya Surve`s character was shaped up. The role of Bagwan is played by Anil Kapoor, in the movie.
"We have tried to be as authentic as possible. We are not here to glorify gangsters and that is what it makes the film stand apart," he added.
On his feelings regarding Manya Surve, John said, "He was a middle-class Maharashtrian boy who wanted to become an engineer and because of certain circumstances he became a gangster. It was the circumstances that made him what he was but that is the story with most of them. But it is about the path what we want to chose whether right or wrong. And he chose the wrong path."
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.