John Abraham: 'I'm an action hero'

John Abraham has said that he believes his forthcoming film Force will win him recognition in the action film genre.

The actor told IANS that Force is a deliberate attempt to make his name as an action hero.

"I had not attempted any action film after Dhoom so my audience, my fans, were a little disappointed with me because I was not doing any action films," he said.

"Quite a few people pointed out to me at many occasions that you have the physique, you have the strength, then why don't you attempt a hard core action film. So I thought I should go for it. And post this film I think people will find me in the action hero slot and find John Abraham as an action hero."

The 7 Khoon Maaf star said he was sceptical before signing up for Force, which is a remake of Gautham Menon's 2003 Tamil film Kaakha Kaakha.

"(Producer) Vipul Shah showed me the original one-and-a-half years ago. I had my doubts over this film. I was confused whether I should do this film or not, but after I watched the film, I really loved it and that is when I made up my mind that I should do this film.

"I had to take special training for this film. When we had finalised the film, the director Nishikant Kamath had said very clearly to me that you have only eight months and I want a body that looks international. It should look like a machine. You should look like Sylvester Stallone physically."

Luckily enough, Abraham has tried to emulate Stallone for years.

"Stallone has been an inspiration for me from the time I was in school when Rocky 4 came out. That is when I had found inspiration from him to be fit like him and to have a body like him. So from that point of view he has been an inspiration."

Force releases in the UK in autumn 2011.