John Abraham up close and personal!

Actor John Abraham is on a roll, especially after his first hit as a solo hero. Personally, he’s hot property now, in the news since his high profile break-up with longtime girlfriend, actor Bipasha Basu. And his solo status has also lead to a spate of speculation and link-ups with numerous girls —from actor Deepika Padukone to bankers et al.  Here John tries to clear the air...

Your recent film did well at the box-office. Do you think this will help to quell all doubts on your acting abilities?
As cliched as it may sound, I had absolutely zero expectations, but I have been getting a great response. The film is commercially successful and I think, it has laid a lot of things to rest. I have managed to say shut up to the trade guys. I have very clearly pulled in a solo hero film. Having said, I will have to keep proving myself time and again.

After being in a relationship for so long, do you miss being in one?
No, I don’t miss being in a relationship. Being in a relationship and being on your own has its pros and cons. I have had some beautiful times in my relationship, but I am equally happy being on my own as well.

What is that one thing that your past relationship taught you?
I have become much more matured in the way I respond to people. Everyone has the right to ask a question to you if you are in the public eye and honestly, you have no business to be here if you say no comments. I am just intrinsically a very shy person. I step back and retreat into a shell. I have matured now and also learnt  to handle such situations.

So are you dating anyone now?
People have decided that I am dating a banker and very soon, news will be out that I am seeing a lawyer, and no, I am not concocting it. Yes, I am going out. I am meeting new people, but that doesn’t mean I am dating anybody — not even the banker or  lawyer. The day I get married, I will be very happy to sit here and announce that I am married. I believe I will be more attractive then because women find married men attractive (winks).

So when do you see yourself settling down?
I would love to settle down. I am a family guy. But I don’t know if it’s going to happen in five months or five years. But if it is beyond five years, then I won’t get married. I just won’t. I will run out of patience. I just think I will be a movie making machine.

Would you get married to a girl your parents choose?
Well, my parents would never choose a girl for me. They know I can make my own decisions.

Now that you are single, how easy is it to get attracted to your co-stars?
It is natural to be attracted to your co-stars sometimes. Anybody who denies being attracted to their co-stars would be clearly lying. It’s about what your state of mind or the status of your relationship is at that point of time. A relationship is like marriage at the end of the day, and you can’t think that you can cheat because you are in a relationship.  It’s also not true that if you are married, you can’t be attracted, but marriage as an institution needs to be respected. If you are attracted, self control is so important, not just physically, but in the mind. I think you need to be just committed as a human being and that I believe makes you even more attractive.