John Abraham recalls facing “a lot of criticism”; says integrity, not PR, helped him navigate : Bollywood News

A few weeks after actress-turned-real estate agent Rimi Sen spoke about her Dhoom co-star John Abraham and his strategic approach to building his career, the actor has now reflected on his own journey in the industry. In a recent conversation with The Indian Express’ Screen, John opened up about navigating Bollywood as an outsider and how he views competition among male co-stars.

John Abraham recalls facing “a lot of criticism”; says integrity, not PR, helped him navigate

John Abraham recalls facing “a lot of criticism”; says integrity, not PR, helped him navigateRecalling his early years in the industry, the actor-producer said, “When I came in, there were almost no outsiders; only Shah Rukh and Akshay had broken through before me. I’ve faced a lot of criticism over the years, but I’ve always stayed focused on my craft and never fed stories to the media. People know my integrity and where I come from.”

John also spoke about his approach to working alongside other leading men, emphasising collaboration over rivalry.

“The best way is to train your mind to know that you are complementing, not competing. I get along way better with my male co-stars. I’ve worked with Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, and Abhishek Bachchan. I’ve even kissed Abhishek! They see me as someone who complements their process, and I feel the same about them. I’m very comfortable in that space, and that energy shows on screen,” he added.

His remarks come shortly after Rimi Sen praised him for being self-aware and strategic at the start of his career. Speaking on the YouTube channel Buildcaps Real Estate, she cited John as an example of an actor who smartly navigated early criticism.

“In the beginning of his career, he was a model. People used to say that he couldn’t act. He didn’t react to that. Instead, he chose roles where he looked convincing — roles that didn’t demand heavy acting,” she explained.

According to Rimi, John consciously picked parts — particularly in action films — that played to his strengths and screen presence. “He chose roles where he looked right, where the audience didn’t feel like, ‘What is he doing?’ That, in my opinion, was very intelligent,” she said.

On the professional front, John was last seen in The Diplomat and is currently shooting for his next film with Rohit Shetty.

Also Read: Rimi Sen calls John Abraham a “very intelligent actor” for strategic role choices; explains how he used his limitations to advantage