In a recent interview, actor John Abraham reflected on his humble beginnings and the values that have shaped his life. Despite his success in the film industry, John shared that he continues to live a middle-class lifestyle, a testament to his upbringing. He candidly admitted that the hardships he faced during his early years often led to frustration, especially as he attended a school where most of his peers came from affluent backgrounds. This disparity made him acutely aware of his own family’s financial struggles.
During his appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, John spoke about the significant influence his parents had on him. He credited his charitable nature to his mother and his sense of simplicity to his father, an architect. He highlighted their modest lifestyle even today, saying, “I would like to say this on the record, my mom is 74 years old, and my father is 12 years older than her; he’s 86. To this day, they have just one small car, and they mostly travel by autos and buses. I don’t say this to create an impression, but I have middle-class values, and this is my biggest advantage.”
John also shared a poignant memory from his childhood that illustrates the challenges his family faced. He recounted a moment from when he was in eighth grade: “I remember I was in class eight, and my dad came home from work. We were having dinner, and he said, ‘I don’t know how to put food on the table tomorrow’. He was very tense. His partner at his architecture firm had cheated him. I don’t know if I meant it as a joke, but I told him, ‘Dad, don’t worry. You see this face? I’ll sell it one day’. It wasn’t ego, it was manifestation.”
John Abraham, known for his candor and grounded nature, recently shared some personal insights into his life and beliefs. While John identifies as an atheist, he considers his father to be his guiding force, almost akin to a deity in his life. Reflecting on his youth, John opened up about the frustrations he felt growing up, largely due to witnessing the financial struggles his parents endured.
“I didn’t have any money. I saw my parents struggle a lot. The school I went to only had rich kids; their parents were industrialists and actors. I was an average student, but I was number one in sports. School was a great leveller, but the moment I graduated, I was hit by reality.”
John described the stark contrast between his life and that of his classmates. “I used to travel by local trains, and my classmates had Audis, Mercedes, BMWs… This was in the early 90s. I noticed the inequality. That created a frustration within me. But I’m glad I didn’t have what they had back then, because today, I feel pride for the upbringing my parents gave me.”
He spoke fondly of the lessons he learned from his parents, particularly their emphasis on honesty and charity. “I learnt social work from my mother; if she has Rs 100, Rs 99 will go to charity. My dad told me, ‘Even if you’re dying of hunger, never be dishonest in life’. And that’s what I learned from him.”
John’s journey from a struggling youth to a successful model and then a leading actor in the Hindi film industry is a testament to his resilience. His career reached new heights in 2023 with his role as the antagonist in the blockbuster Pathaan, starring alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Fans are eagerly awaiting his next venture, Vedaa, directed by Nikkhil Advani.
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