John Abraham Calls for Balanced Patriotism in Cinema Amid Hyper-Political Climate

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI)—The dynamic landscape of filmmaking seems to be caught amid a hyper-political environment, according to actor John Abraham. He asserts that religion is divisively fragmenting society, with some films capitalizing on this strife to secure box office success.

John Abraham, who has appeared in a string of geopolitical thrillers including the recent ZEE5 film "Tehran," advocates for patriotism in cinema that is "restrained and responsible" rather than overtly jingoistic.

The actor referred to his own film, "The Diplomat," as an exemplar of thoughtful patriotism, focusing on the real-life efforts of diplomat J P Singh, who orchestrated the rescue of an Indian woman from Pakistan. "You're not being jingoistic. You're not beating your chest. The patriotism here is silent yet resilient," Abraham stated.

Starting his cinematic journey with the 2003 film "Jism," Abraham transitioned from comedy roles in films like "Garam Masala" and "Dostana" to more politically charged dramas such as "Madras Cafe," "Parmanu," and "The Diplomat."

"We are indeed living in a hyper-political environment, with religion conclusively dividing us," he said. "It is disheartening to see some films exploit this for monetary gain. These films often lack nuance and craft, relying on tropes instead."

Abraham noted that moviemaking is an arena open to all sorts of creative expression, including propaganda films. However, he emphasized the importance of balanced storytelling, especially given today's charged atmosphere. "Our audiences will appreciate stories that aim for balance," he added.

He also expressed his belief that commercial success doesn't necessarily require exploitation of societal tensions, pointing to his role as the antagonist in the successful Shah Rukh Khan film "Pathaan."

"There are ways to make money without capitalizing on a divisive environment. That's a personal choice. I've chosen not to exploit it, even though I have the means to do so," Abraham said.

Known for his flair in portraying anti-heroes, Abraham relishes roles such as in "Dhoom" and the recent "Pathaan." "In my mind, I’m the central figure, even when I play the bad guy," he explained. "The stereotypical villain archetype has faded, making way for more complex anti-hero narratives in modern cinema."

"Tehran," currently streaming on ZEE5, is a fictional account based on a real event amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Directed by Arun Gopalan, the film draws inspiration from a 2012 bomb explosion near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi and stars Abraham as ACP Rajeev Kumar embroiled in a globe-spanning covert operation.

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