Whether Parmanu does Rs 5 crore, 50 crore or 500 crore; it really doesn't matter: John Abraham

John Abraham's film Parmanu: The story of Pokhran opened to mixed responses today but the one thing about the film that everyone seem to have appreciated is that like the recently released Raazi, John's film too doesn't indulge in one-upmanship. No one in the film is seen hurling abuses at Pakistan to get a few whistles or hoots from the audience. 

Directed by Abhishek Sharma, the movie is based on the successful nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran, Rajasthan in 1998. A few days from now and trade gurus will get busy estimating the film's box-office collections. But, John says, although Parmanu has been made for the audience of main-stream cinema, this is one film, whose collections won't affect him because the topic is way too important to be weighed in terms of money. 

"Whether this film does one rupee or hundred rupees, it really doesn’t matter. I am just happy that it’s releasing. But more important than that, it’s a true story. There are some films that are made for commercial reasons, ofcourse this is also a commercial film BUT there are some stories that need to be told. This is a story that needed to be told," John told DNA in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts from the interview - 

Why did it take you two years to return to the silver screen? Was it a conscious decision?

Yes, it was. After Force 2 I wanted to come with something that was credible, that had content, that people would sit up and take notice of and for that I knew I have to go through research. And, I think Parmanu took me through that research. 

So, November 18th (2016) was when I finished Force 2 and it released.  January, I started researching for Parmanu. Ofcourse, way in advance but in January we actively started researching and doing pre-production. We went on floors May 30th. We started shooting June 1st and now we are releasing. It’s been a process. 

I could have easily signed five commercial films in the mean time and said, ‘Hey listen! This is what I can do. You want me to lift cars, lift bikes.’ I can break anything at sight, which is what the audience loves. 

But, as a production house and as an actor I feel safe when a film comes from JA Entertainment. My production house is known for quality. We think before we come out with anything. 

So, whether our film does 5 crores, 50 crores or 500 crores, it really doesn’t matter. No one is going to question the content from my production house. For me, that’s important. Because the longetivity of your production house or your career depends on the choice you make. I choose with a lot of care. 

What was that one thing that made you venture out into production?

As an actor, I didn’t get to do or see the films that I wanted to, that’s why I decided to produce. Because, as an actor you only do formula films. I asked myself what can I do as a producer that can make things very different. And, I said ‘I will do everything that’s non-formula.’ Make a film on a sperm donor, make a film on the assassination of my ex-Prime minister, speak about a spy in Hungary or make a film on the nuclear tests where the villain of the film is not a human being but is a Lucknow satellite. 

So, people are like, ‘You’re crazy.’ And I say, ‘Yeah! There is a management term, the higher the risks, the greater the profits.’ I have won five National awards since becoming a producer! And, I think that’s not the end, that’s the beginning. 

I am very convinced about the kind of films I make, because I choose films on my gut. There’s no one who advises me. I am very clear. 

What is Parmanu? People don’t even know the meaning of the Hindi term. Parmanu means atom. Parmanu Parikshan means atom on nuclear tests. Parmanu bomb means atom bomb. I believe the reason why every Indian feels he or she is being schooled to be an Indian today, is because what happened on the 11th of May, 1998. Which people don’t know. Because it was on the 11th of May,1998  when we conducted the test, we got into the elite list of Nuclear nations. And, because our neighbours were hostile at that point of time, we then had negotiating power. And the India today that is, is because of what happened on that particular day. And, it’s because of that day that it’s called the National Technology Day. 

So, it’s a very big day in India’s history. I believe, it’s the most important day in India’s history post-Independence. And, no one has made a film on it, which is SHOCKING! 

Do you feel more empowered as a producer today for being able to choose the stories you really want to tell the audience?

You feel empowered as a producer but then a studio cuts it down to length and says, ‘Listen your commerce on this film was only so much. So, you can make this film but don’t fly too high! These are the budgets that we are going to give you.’ 

But yes, as a producer I feel more empowered because I can really tell the stories I want to tell. Like the next announcement that I will make, if you think this was crazy or this was different, the next time you will be like, ‘How the hell did you even think of this?’ But, that’s the idea. 

At JA Entertainment, my development head is a writer. She wrote Parmanu and she also wrote Neerja. She is a creative person and I have a team of creative people. I have got a think tank that put their heads together. 

When we realize it’s practically impossible to pull it (a particular subject) off, that’s where JA Entertainment comes in. And that’s where we decide to do it. And we say, ‘We want to do this now. Why? Because, people think we can’t. Two, because nobody thinks they can. And three, because it looks impossible.’