Get, set, goal!: John Abraham’s dostana with football

Actor-producer, who has invested in a fotball franchise will soon be doing a film based on the sport.

NEW DELHI:

Actor-producer John Abraham, who has a penchant for sports, is revelling in the 2014 Fifa World Cup fever. He is all set to make the country “live the magic” of the international tournament. John will soon be doing a film based on the sport and has even invested in a football franchise.

Considering his avid interest in football, his fans may wonder why John didn’t opt for football as a career choice. “I would have played for India, but I had to make a choice between football and NMBA.” But despite his childhood dream not materialising, he has thought of living it via different avenues.

John’s home production 1911, to be directed by Shoojit Sircar, will see him reprise the role of late Indian footballer Sibdas Bhaduri on the big screen. Capitalising on his star power, he has bought the Guwahati franchise of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The actor, who has starred in Bollywood sport film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal (2007), quipped, “My production officer and production partner are wondering whether this [my office] is a production office or a football office.” “Be it kabbadi, football, badminton, hockey, golf or boxing,” he advocates efforts on part of the Bollywood fraternity to promote different kinds of sports in the country.



John has been roped in by sports and entertainment channel Sony SIX as the 2014 Fifa World Cup brand ambassador in India.

The Bollywood heartthrob grew up watching Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, thanks to his father who used to wake him up early morning to catch up on football matches. He believes that football will scale new heights once Indian football finds its “hero.” “One hero can totally change the fabric of a sport in a country. In tennis, it was Sania Mirza, in badminton, Saina Nehwal and much before her, Prakash Padukone. I think Indian football requires that one hero,” he said.

As for the World Cup, which kickstarts on June 12 in Brazil, John will be analysing the matches for viewers with football icons such as Peter Crouch, Robbie Fowler, Peter Shilton, Mikael Silvestre, Ellyse Perry and Sunil Chhetri. Cafe Rio and Football Extraaa are the two shows that Sony SIX has planned to dole out during the matches to propagate primetime football viewing in the country.

So, which team(s) is John backing? “No one plays football like the Brazilians do. When they play it, it’s like poetry in motion. Besides, this time, the World Cup is in the Mecca of football, so, watching Brazilians play would be great,” he said. He added that if his duties allow him a three-day break, he would love to fly off to Brazil to catch at least a few matches live.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2014.

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