Bollywood actor John Abraham recently shared a memorable moment from his career when Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg praised his performance in Deepa Mehta’s Water. While the film received critical acclaim internationally, John lamented that it was largely overlooked in India.
Speaking in an interview with BookMyShow’s YouTube channel, John recalled attending the Academy Awards in 2006 when Water was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Despite not winning, the experience left a lasting impression on him. “When I went to the awards, I had the honour of meeting Steven Spielberg, and he loved my performance in Water, whereas no one here even saw it for a day,” John said.
He also mentioned his interaction with Hollywood star Charlize Theron, who shared her appreciation for his performance. “I remember Charlize Theron talking to me and saying, ‘I loved what you were processing,’ but no one here talked about that,” he recounted.
In an earlier conversation with Filmfare, John recalled a valuable lesson from Spielberg. “He said, ‘Remember, there are no good and bad actors. There are good and bad films,'” the Garam Masala actor shared.
Mehta’s Water faced significant challenges before its release. Initially set to star Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, and Akshay Kumar, the film was to be shot in Varanasi. However, due to protests following the controversy surrounding Mehta’s previous film Fire, the project was shelved. Years later, Mehta revived it in Sri Lanka with a new cast, including John Abraham, Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas, and Waheeda Rehman.
Despite the hurdles, Water went on to receive international recognition. And while the film may not have garnered much attention in India at the time, Spielberg’s words continue to hold a special place in John’s journey as an actor.
#Water #waves #India
