John Abraham: 'I'm more than just a body'

John Abraham has revealed that directors no longer see him as just a "body".

The actor can currently be seen in Desi Boyz playing an Oxford graduate-turned-male-stripper.

Abraham told DNA India: "Films are a visual medium. From Shah Rukh [Khan] to Aamir [Khan], everybody maintains a great body as they realise that it is a visual medium, and that their body should be good.

"But that was never my concentration. 'Body' will never be my central point. But I know how my audience talks to me - they say what a great body he has got. Why should I lose that?

"People die to have this kind of physique and I worked so hard for it. So why not play around with it, why not do things, as it will only add to my characterisation."

Abraham added: "I think directors have put in more confidence into me and producers are also putting complete confidence in me."

The star said that Force had been his biggest success because audiences preferred him as an action hero.

However, it was recently reported that he is refusing to return for the sequel to Force because the makers had failed to promote the film properly.