John Abraham, Racing ahead at 41
From Bollywood beefcake to one of its most popular actors and producers, John Abraham has come a long way from his days on the ramp as a fashion model.
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John began his career with an appearance in a music video for Punjabi singer Jazzy B. He then joined a PR agency which eventually closed, after which he worked as a media planner. In 1991, his modeling career took off when he won the Gladrags Manhunt and went on to become the first runner up at the Manhunt International in Philippines.
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After his win, John made it big in the modelling circuit. He was signed up by Carrie Models in Singapore and also worked in Hong Kong, London and New York. He appeared in music videos for singers Pankaj Udhas, Hans Raj Hans and Babul Supriyo.
In between his modelling assignments, he took acting classes from Kishore Namit Kapoor. -
In 2003, John got his first Bollywood break. He made his debut with the steamy thriller Jism opposite Bipasha Basu. The film was moderately successful but John's performance garnered critical praise.
His personal life was also looking up with a full blown romance with his Jism co-star Bipasha Basu who John started dating in 2002. The relationship lasted nine years before they broke up in 2011. -
John went on to appear in a string of multi-starrer films including Zinda and Taxi No 9211, which pitted him against Bollywood veteran Nana Patekar.
In Baabul, John worked alongside big-wigs like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Hema Malini and Rani Mukherji. -
Nikhil Advani's multi starrer Salaam-e-Ishq was John's first release in 2007. It tanked at the box office but made its presence felt abroad. John's chemistry with co-star Vidya Balan was heavy fuel for the Bollywood rumour mill, though both denied a real life romance.
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Continuing his association with Kabir Khan, John's first release of 2009 was another much awaited production by Yash Raj Films, New York. The movie was a critical and commercial success and John's performance was singled out for praise.
Between 2010 and 2011, John featured in several films like Aashayein, Jhootha Hi Sahi, Force and Desi Boyz, which failed to impress the audience.
However, 7 Khoon Maaf did get mixed reviews from critics. -
In 2013, the actor-turned-producer played the antagonist in Race 2, the first Rs 100-crore movie of the year. The action film also featured Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Jacqueline Fernandez.
I, Me Aur Main might have failed to impress the audience but Shootout At Wadala was declared a huge hit at the box office. -
John is considered a fashion and fitness icon and one of the hottest actors of Bollywood. In 2008, he was the only Indian to make it to the Top 25 Sexiest Men in the World list.
John also has his own fashion line called JA Clothes, which primarily features jeans. -
John is also committed to a number of social causes and is a brand ambassador for PETA. He has a project of his own called John's Brigade for Habitat for Humanity.
In 2010, he won NDTV's Greenest Celebrity Award.
Here's wishing John a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.
