'Force 2' is more about brains than brawn: John Abraham

He loves variety, and that reflects in his choice of films as an actor and as a producer. He believes in backing projects that force you to sit back and take note. In a chat with BT, John Abraham talks about his decision to co-produce 'Force 2', a hard-core Bollywood action film and what you could expect from the franchise this time.
How did the idea of turning 'Force' into a franchise come about?
Every action star has an acclaimed action franchise, especially international ones.Bruce Willis has 'Die Hard', Vin Diesel is synonymous with 'The Fast and The Furious' series and Matt Damon has the 'Bourne' series to his credit. Similarly, 'Force' belongs to me. The reaction to the first instalment, even years after its release, made it a bigger project this time around. People identified with the film on several aspects, which included my body and the bike I lifted. They wanted to know what I would lift in the next film (smiles). It's the right film to turn into a franchise and a sensible decision at that. The effort gone into it is humongous and it will be an edge-of-the-seat experience.
You decided to co-produce this film after giving us offbeat movies like 'Vicky Donor' and 'Madras Cafe'. What prompted the decision?
I own 'Force'. By co-producing it, I can turn it the way I deem fit. It's up to me to make it big or cut it down to size. Everything depends on the vision I have. This will pave way for the third instalment of the film.
How is this one different from the first instalment?
Force 2 is far more intelligent. It is inspired by true events. After working with Shoojit Sircar as a co-producer on 'Madras Cafe', I understand that facts require a lot more effort and diligence. Despite being a commercial film, it is not just about raw power, but also intellect. It's more about brains than brawn. My character, ACP Yashvardhan stands for the qualities a man should have in today's time in terms of faith, honesty and integrity. He has incredible, real physical powers to match up to a superhero. The antagonist in the second instalment is far more dangerous and so is the film. The right amount of intensity has been infused to build the tension around the hero, the villain and the happenings in the world. Tahir Raj Bhasin, who did a swell job in 'Mardaani', is the antagonist in 'Force 2'. I keep joking with him that I hope he doesn't forget me after becoming big. I'm telling you, he's someone to watch out for. I have given my blood and sweat to this film and I hope it becomes bigger and reaches a wider audience.
Sonakshi Sinha has joined forces with you. She was seen kicking some serious butt in her last film. Was she able to put up a tough fight here?
Sonakshi is a brilliant actor and has done an incredible job in the film. I like danger and the adrenaline rush that comes with action sequences. I have fallen off from a height of 150 ft between two buildings, swinging on a cable and crashing into a glass. But to have the heroine match up to that zeal is amazing. I asked Sonakshi if she would like to perform an action sequence herself or would prefer a body double, but she was game for it. After seeing her dedication, I asked my action director to re-design a whole sequence which originally had me fighting baddies, while Sonakshi shielded a pregnant lady. We finally decided to let her do the fighting. I can vouch that she is going to walk away with a lot of praise.
How was it working with Abhinay Deo for the first time?
I have been a big fan of his work ever since I got to sample his cinematic sensibilities in 'Delhi Belly'. We are more like friends now. We often tend to ignore writers, so I would also like to mention Parvez Shaikh, who has done a brilliant job. It's an all-round effort from all verticals, including Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Viacom 18. Vipul's vision as a co-producer in executing the 'Force series' can't be ignored.
You have gone international with the project. Why did you choose to shoot at locations like Budapest and China?
Budapest is an important character and not just a scenic location in the film. We have also shot in Thailand, China and Mumbai. Every location is imperative to the film as some vital incidents occur at these places. The sequences will prompt you to sit up and take notice of it. It's going to be a special experience for the viewers. The film is an amalgamation of commercial aspects and credible sequences. Problems in Force were contained and personal, while in the second instalment, they are far larger and pose grave danger to the country. So hopefully, we will tackle even bigger problems in the third instalment.
Any one film you would want to revive and turn into a franchise?
After 'Force', we hope that 'Dishoom' also becomes a franchise. This progression works well for the film, for me and whoever else is involved with it. I have always believed that no actor can make or break a film, but the content decides the fate. Every actor is dispensable, but what's indispensable is the content.
Listen to the songs of John Abraham on gaana.com