John Abraham says he never felt like an outsider and calls Karan Johar one of his closest friends

John Abraham is one of the most popular actors in Bollywood. Interestingly, his entry into the industry was not initially planned. He began his career as a model before moving to films, and despite facing some early challenges, he always felt accepted within the film community.

Recently, he shared his thoughts on the debate around nepotism and expressed his pride in being part of the industry. During an interview with India Today, John said, “I call myself an accidental model because I was working as a media planner when a model didn’t turn up, and I was asked to wear a pair of jeans. I didn’t even think about it, it didn’t cross my mind.” 

Despite the initial failures of his first few films, John maintained a positive attitude. He said, “Later, I had four films that failed, and I still didn’t overthink it. Then Dhoom happened. That film changed my career.” 

John offered his perspective on the debates around nepotism within Bollywood, stating his views clearly, “I’ve never felt like an outsider, to be very honest, and I’ve never claimed to be one. I don’t believe in this whole nepotism versus outsider debate, it’s honestly done to death.” John also spoke on his friendships within the industry. He shared, “Karan Johar is, incidentally, one of my closest friends. He’s a nice guy. We don’t work together, but we get along really well.” 

John expressed his sense of pride in belonging to the film industry. He said, “I’m part of the industry, a very proud part of the industry.” He also shared that he is hopeful about exploring new and diverse films, while also acknowledging the difficulties involved. He said, “The discouraging part is that I need more support from studios to make the kind of films I want to make. That’s the only thing I feel bad about.” 

John’s upcoming film, Tehran, will be available to stream on Zee5 from August 14.

Also Read: Check out Akshay Kumar and John Abraham’s crackling camaraderie