My break-up made me mature in life: John Abraham

He never discussed about the ups and downs in his relationship in public but Bollywood actor John Abraham says his break-up with Bipasha Basu has made him mature enough to deal with life.

John, 38, dated Basu for ten years and the couple split rencently.

"I have become mature in life. I must say that every relationship helps you to grow in life and makes you mature. If today I am sitting here and discussing about my personal life which I had never done before, you can easily gauge that how much I am enjoying my space and time now," John said.

"I am happy that now I have time for myself and my ailing parents. They are not keeping well and I am devoting all my time to them," he added.

Professionally also John is enjoying the current phase of his career. He believes his forthcoming release Force, Tamil remake of KaakhaKaakha, will enable himself to make a mark in the genre of hardcore action.

"After Dhoom, I've not attempted any action film. So, my fans were a little disappointed with me. Many pointed out that I have the physique and strength, therefore I should attempt a hard core action film. And post this film I think people will find me in the action hero slot," John said during a Van Heusen store launch in the Capital.

But he says, it was not intentional to join the league of action heroes of Bollywood.

"I think it's all a sheer coincidence that I am playing the character of a cop. We had never planned that all of us will play the character of an outrageous cop. But I feel Salman bhai and Ajay Devgn have brilliantly don the character," he added.

John had to undergo strict regime to prepare for his character.

"I had to take special training for this film. When we finalised the film, the director (Nishikanth Kamath) had said that he wanted a body which looked international and I had only eight months to prepare. He wanted me to look like Sylvester Stallone," John said.

When asked whether Stallone was the inspiration behind his eight pack abs, the actor said, "Stallone has been an inspiration for me from the time I was in school when Rocky 4 came out. That is when I had found inspiration from him to be fit like him."

John says his film comes with a strong message.

"I am playing  an anti-drug officer and personally also I don't believe in drugs. People who are into drugs are escapists."

"Through my film, I would really want our youth to understand that due to peer pressure, people get mislead. It just destroys your body completely and this is the message that we are trying to give with this film."