In the past I've written a few posts featuring Bollywood stars, including Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi. Today I'm sharing some videos from the films of actor John Abraham. I've actually had this post in mind since early last year, I think but hadn't got round to it!
John is from Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and has a mixed family background- his dad is a Malayali Syrian Christian and his mum is a Parsi or Irani Zorastrian.*
He started out in showbiz as a model, after wining the Gladrags Manhunt Contest in 1999 and then coming second in Manhunt International. In 2003, John made his acting debut, starring in erotic thriller Jism, alongside Bipasha Basu. The stars went on to date for several years and were known as a "supercouple".
John's big break came in 2004, when he starred as Kabir, the main villain in the action thriller film Dhoom (the first film in the series) Since then he has acted in many movies and has become known as an action hero, appearing in other movies such as Force (2011) and its 2016 sequel Force 2, Race 2 (2013)- the sequel to 2008's Race, Shootout at Wadala (2013), Satyameva Jayate (2018) and the 2021 sequel Satyameva Jayate 2 and Ek Villain Returns (2022).
He is also known for comedies including Garam Masala (2005), Dostana (2008) and Housefull 2 (2012).
Random fact: He collects sports bikes and has ridden motorcycles in several movies.
In addition to acting, John has moved into film producing, working on Hindi films Vicky Donor (2012) and Madras Cafe (2013) and Marathi movie Savita Damodar Paranjpe (2018). His most recent films (as an actor) include Pathaan (2023) and Tehran (I'm unsure it it's been released yet).
Here are some songs from some of his films. :)
Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai from Jism (2003)
This is Jaadu Hai Nashi Hai, a song from John's debut film Jism (which translates as "Body" in English). He stars as Kabir Lal, an alcoholic lawyer who begins an affair with a married woman, Sonia Khanna (played by Bipasha Basu).
Sonia is unhappy in her marriage to millionaire Rohit (Gulshan Grover) but rather than leave him, she suggests that Kabir murder him. She also tempts Kabir with the promise of getting her husband's money. But can Sonia be trusted?
I've never seen this but its the type of thing I would watch!
Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai is sung by the popular playback singer Shreya Ghoshal. The video features a love scene between Kabir and Sonia.
Note: The video is blocked from display on 3rd party applications but can be viewed fine on YouTube. :)
Dhoom Dhoom and Dhoom Machale from Dhoom
John's breakthough role was as Kabir, the leader of a robber biker gang in the hit film Dhoom (2006). It was his second time playing a character called Kabir (see above!).
I featured two videos from Dhoom as a Weekly Music Video in 2013- the Dhoom Dhoom remix by Thai singer Tata Young and Dhoom Machale from the film: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2013/10/weekly-music-video_23.html
Watch the trailer for Dhoom here (English subtitles available!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Ii35hqs_U
Title Song from Aetbaar
In 2017 I wrote a post called Bollywood/Hollywood Thrillers, which was about Bollywood thrillers based on Hollywood films. The movies featured were Aitraaz/Disclosure and Aetbaar/Fear. John played unhinged bad boy Aryan in Aetbaar (2004), co-starring with Bipasha once again and veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. It's one of my favourite Bollywood films.
Visit the post for more on the film and to see the video for the title song: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2017/09/bollywoodhollywood-thrillers.html
Nachle from Lakeer
Nachle from the 2004 film Lakeer: Forbidden Lines (in which John played Saahil) was a Weekly Music Video back in 2012: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2012/12/weekly-music-video_27.html
Meter Down Taxi No. 9 2 11: Nau Do Gyarah
In 2006 John starred in the comedy thriller Taxi No 9 2 11, alongside Nana Patekar, which is a remake of the 2002 American film Changing Lanes. He plays Jai, a spoilt, rich businessman desperate to challenge his late father's will. While taking a taxi to the security vault where his dad's will is stored, Jai gets into an argument with the driver Raghav (Nana), which causes an accident. Raghav is arrested afterwards.
Later Jai realises that he's lost the key. It turns out Raghav has it, but he's not willing to give it up easily...
This is Meter Down, one of the song from the film. The singers are Adnan Sami, Merriene and Nimosa. The video features the two main stars, plus the female lead Sameera Reddy, who plays Rupali.
Khabar Nahi from Dostana
Dostana (2008) is about two straight friends, Kunal (John) and Sameer aka Sam (played by Abishek Bachchan, son of Amitabh) who pretend to be gay in order to move into a Miami apartment with Neha (Priyanka Chopra). Things get even more complicated when both of them develop feelings for Neha! The title translates as "Friendship" in English.
Khabar Nahi is sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Pakistani singer Amant Ali, Vishal Dadlani (one half of the duo Vishal-Shekhar) and Raja Hasan.
Also check out the video for Shut Up & Bounce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0akqVN4ts0w
And watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8FqtQ-YlhE
Hai Junoon from New York
The 2009 film New York follows 3 friends at university in New York City- Samir "Sam" (John), Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and Maya (Katrina Kaif), just starting out in life. But after the terrorist attack of September 11th 2001, everything changes and they take different paths.
New York was a hit, one of the most successful Hindi films of 2009.
The late singer KK provided vocals for Hai Junoon. Click "Subtitles/closed captions" for English subtitles! :)
Khawabon Khwabon from Force
In 2011 John starred in Force as ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) Yashvardhan, known as Yash), an NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) officer who faces an tough opponent in drug baron Vishnu (Vidyut Jammawal). Vishnu is out for revenge after Yash and his fellow officers killed his brother, and is determined to make them pay.
At this point in his career, John had matured and was becoming more known for action roles. Force is a remake of the Tamil film Kaakha Kaakha.
This is Khawabon Khawabon, sung by KK and Suchitra. The video stars John and Genelia D'souza/Deshmukh, who plays Yash's love interest Maya.
Allah Duhai Hai from Race 2
John was one of the stars in 2013's Race 2, the 2nd instalment in the Race series (there are 3 in total). The film sees businessman Ranvir Singh (played by Saif Ali Khan) out to get revenge on the Turkish mafia who are responsible for the death of his wife Sonia. He comes up against Turkish mafia boss Armaan Malik (John) and his sister Aleena (Deepika Padukone).
I've seen the first 2 Race movies and I think I've seen the 3rd more recently. It hadn't stood out in my mind, lol.
I featured the song Allah Duhai Hai in my Bollywood Round 2018- Part 2 post. See it here: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2018/12/bollywood-round-up-2018-part-2.html
For more on Race check out this post:
Race 3 Videos: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2018/06/race-3-videos.html
Babli Badmaash from Shootout at Wadala
Finilly, here is Babli Badmash from crime thriiler Shootout at Wadala (2013), the prequel to 2007's Shootout at Lokhandwala. It's the true story of an incident where Mumbai police shot and killed gangster Manya Surve, which took place in the neighbourhood of Wadala on 11th January 1982.
John plays Manya and star actor Anil Kapoor plays the police inspector in charge, ACP Afaaque Baaghran.
Babli Badmaash is an item song (a song and dance number not directly related to the storyline) and sees Priyanka Chopra as a performer in a club that Manya visits. The playback singer is Sunidhi Chauhan.
So that's it for now! There are more videos to share but I don't want this post to be too long, so I'm planning to do another one soon (or soon-ish, lol!). :)
If you're a John fan, which of his films and/or music videos do you like? Do you have a favourite Bollywood actor?
*I've read conflicting reports about his mother's background.
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