The Bollywood star John Abraham took the time to meet his UAE-based fans on Wednesday. Several of his females fans were eagerly watching on from the Paddock Club of Yas Marina Circuit, as Abraham was filmed whizzing round for a few laps in a Nissan GT-R, for an upcoming commercial.
None were more thrilled to see Abraham in the flesh as he greeted his fans afterwards than the Emirati Fatima Mohamed, 24, who had spent the previous six days scouting film locations on Yas Island where he is shooting the movie Dishoom, in the hope of being able to catch a glimpse of her idol. The film production crew and security guards wouldn't allow her near the superstar - until this afternoon.
“I have been waiting for this for years!” she gushed excitedly. “When I hear John being interviewed, talking about himself and how he leads his life, I find it really interesting – his character is very inspiring.”
Abraham is known for his warm attitude towards his fans, and sat the trembling Mohamed down next to him. “That’s so sweet of you!” He told her, upon hearing what a huge fan she was. “I can’t believe my eyes!” replied Mohamed.
Abraham was enjoying a day off from movie shooting after spending the last four days in Abu Dhabi shooting for the action adventure film Dishoom, in which he plays a policeman. "So far, the shooting has been going great", he says. "Nargis Fakri has joined us, she's got a special appearance playing a good-guy character and she's here for a couple of days. I think she leaves tomorrow."
Abraham revealed that he finds Fakri, who he has previously worked with on the film Madras Café (2013), to be “an absolutely wonderful co-star.” “Let me put it this way – she’s one of the boys. She’s a lovely person, a good human being.”
Abraham’s other female co-star, Jacqueline Fernandez, will be arriving in Abu Dhabi in the next few days, he revealed.
During the last film that Abraham shot in the UAE, Welcome Back (2015), he got the opportunity to drive the $3 million McLaren. And on this trip, Abraham was taking the Nissan GT-R out for a spin just before dashing off for a VIP engagement.
“If you’re a motor-head like me, then this is the best place to be”, he says. “I drove my favourite car today, the Nissan GT-R. Its more than 550 horsepower, so for someone like me who enjoys speed, it’s absolutely fantastic. And I got to do some power drifting.”
Abraham told us that right now his favourite car that he currently owns is a Maruti Gypsy king – but he’s now got his sights set on a speedier vehicle. “I’ve got a bunch of other cars, and that’s the one I like the most. But it’s not the one I really want to have, which I’ll get soon, which is the GT-R. I’ll probably look at acquiring one in September.”
artslife@thenational.ae
