After 'Goal', people will concentrate on football: John

Nov 16, 2007 IANS

New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Bollywood actor John Abraham is certain that after seeing his upcoming film "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal", cricket-crazy Indians will take to watching football. And the film will also offer an insight into the Asian community in Britain, he said.

"We all just watch cricket but I am sure after the audiences see this film they will concentrate on football," John told reporters during a promotional event here.

An avid soccer fan himself, John plays the role of an aspiring football player in the film, which is a contemporary story of the hurdles faced by the Asian community in Britain told through the dynamic prism of professional football. The film will release Nov 23.

"It is a very good film and it takes a close look at a cross-section of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other Asians living in England and the racism they face. It also features the problems Asian players face to make it to the team. I am sure people will like it," he added.

The actor said the life of a football player is extremely challenging and to get into the skin of the character he worked really hard.

"I practised for a month to enact the role of a player and I must say that the life of a football player is not easy. You have such a short span of time to prove yourself and to make it to the top, say if one starts playing at the age of 21 years then he has only eight years to prove his talent.

"Moreover, one has to cope with immense pressure and stress," said John, who was accompanied by Bipasha Basu, members of his football team in the film and well-known football player Suniel Chettri.

Chettri said: "In a country like ours where Bollywood stars are taken more seriously than anything else, I believe after this film people will take the game more seriously."

John even demonstrated his skills by dribbling the football, balancing it on his index finger, signed autographs and threw footballs and CDs of the film at the crowd, which went berserk.

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Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal