‘They come with no baggage’: John Abraham on why he prefers newcomers in Bollywood

John Abraham, who made his debut in Bollywood in 2003, is all on board to welcome newcomers in the industry. In fact, the actor-turned-producer launched the careers of Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam with Vicky Donor and Rashi Khanna with Madras Cafe under his JA Productions banner.

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In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Abraham highlighted a significant advantage of hiring fresh faces – little to no baggage. “A lot of newcomers come with no baggage and it's easier to work with them,” the actor said. He further stated that, for him, the director’s word is final on whether he wants to hire children from the industry or an outsider. “For me, they're all the same, anyone who fits the bill, works for me.”

The 52-year-old elaborated on the struggle of working with more established artists who are accompanied by an entourage, including publicists, agents, and media managers, whom the production then has to accommodate. “When you come with a football team, that becomes very troublesome for me. In real life, I have a football team, and I know how much money that has cost me, so I don't want another football team in my life. It's better that they stay away,” the The Diplomat actor said.

For Abraham, a tight-knit small group is all he needs to operate a project, which is also an expectation he puts on his team. “If I'm working on someone else's film, then that's the producer's prerogative as to how much staff they want to entertain,” he explained. “That's why newcomers are probably slightly more suited for me, till they get corrupt. After a film or two, success comes to them, and they move on into different planes. So, then I again, look for newcomers.”

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