John Abraham will be seen next in the political-thriller Tehran, where he plays an Indian spy who is stuck in a mission in Iran. In a recent interview, the actor spoke of the hurdles in getting the film out and shared his thoughts on making movies with political themes.
In an interview with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, John expressed his gratitude to Ministry of External Affairs for allowing Tehran to be released. "I don't think this film (Tehran) would have passed to be shown in theatres, to be very honest,” he said.
Speaking about censorship, he said, “I think you need censorship, but the way it's being overseen, you know, could be a big question mark, suggesting a balance between creative expression and regulatory oversight. Till now, they’ve been good and kind with us, and I’ve been responsible with the way I’ve made and spoken in my films. For the record, I’m not right-wing, I’m not left-wing - I’m apolitical, but politically aware. And it’s important for me to make an honest statement."
The actor also shared his thoughts on making political films and said, “What worries me is when right-wing films find a huge audience. That's when you ask yourself, as a filmmaker, what line am I going to tow - Am I going to take the commercial route to make more money, or stay true to what I want to say? I’ve chosen the latter. In Tehran, this is not a patriotic film, it’s set in 2012 - but it shows India as it was. My trailer even says it: ‘India has deserted me.’"
John said that it is “scary” when movies are made with the intent of “swaying” people in a “hyper-political atmosphere”. “I’ve never been tempted, and I’m never going to make those kinds of films. Just like I can’t make adult comedies, it’s difficult for me to produce or act in them. It’s a choice," he added.
Tehran is directed by Arun Gopalan and also features Manushi Chhillar, Neeru Bajwa, and Madhurima Tuli in pivotal roles. It will start streaming on ZEE5 from August 14.