<p>It may appear so with his roles in films like 'Jism', 'Garam Masala', 'Dhoom' and 'Dostana' but filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor is confident that their latest film 'Aashayein' will break that image. Abraham plays a compulsive gambler, Rahul Singh, in the movie, who discovers a new meaning of life and love through a dramatic turn of events.<br /><br />"I like to cast my actors against the tide. It is a huge challenge the actor if he is up for it. John has played this cool, handsome guy with little bit of variations in many films. I am hoping that people with see him in a different light post 'Aashayein'," Kukunoor told PTI.<br /><br />The 37-year-old star lost 16kgs to play the role and Kukunoor had to shoot the movie over a period of time to show John's gradual weight-loss onscreen.<br />The film is releasing tomorrow after a delay of about two years because of disagreement between producers-distributors Percept and Big Pictures. Kukunoor, 43, says he is approaching the release with a sense of relief.<br /><br />"It was very frustrating when it did not release but now it is total relief. The waiting period is over and it was not in my control and had nothing to do with the film," says Kukunoor, whose another film 'Yeh Hausala' is also awaiting release for sometime. Asked whether the audience will accept a film that should have come two years back, Kukunoor is quick to clarify that his story does not carry a "dated" look.<br /><br />"We had not even set the release date in 2008 when the film got pulled so not much work was done on the movie in terms of promotions. So it does not have a dated look and as far as material is concerned the story is timeless because it is valid at any point," he says.<br /><br />After the release of 'Aashayein', Kukunoor is also planning to get back to his first love-- acting. Kukunoor debuted as a director-actor with his first small budget film 'Hyderabad Blues' in 1998 and has done cameos in 'Dor', '3 Deewarein' and 'Aashayein'.<br /><br />"I have been offered some roles but they were not something that attracted me. I want to do a good role. Last time I felt like this was in '3 Deewarein'," he says.<br />Kukunoor last two films 'Bombay to Bangkok' and Akshay Kumar starrer '8X10' did not work at the box office. The director agrees that his image as a serious filmmaker may have contributed to their failure.<br /><br />Kukunoor is ready with 3-4 scripts that he wrote after 'Aashayein'. "I have four-five scripts with him and there is a love story also. It would be interesting to see which one takes of first. Once this film is released I will have more clarity. But one thing is sure my new film will have a new face," he says.</p>
<p>It may appear so with his roles in films like 'Jism', 'Garam Masala', 'Dhoom' and 'Dostana' but filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor is confident that their latest film 'Aashayein' will break that image. Abraham plays a compulsive gambler, Rahul Singh, in the movie, who discovers a new meaning of life and love through a dramatic turn of events.<br /><br />"I like to cast my actors against the tide. It is a huge challenge the actor if he is up for it. John has played this cool, handsome guy with little bit of variations in many films. I am hoping that people with see him in a different light post 'Aashayein'," Kukunoor told PTI.<br /><br />The 37-year-old star lost 16kgs to play the role and Kukunoor had to shoot the movie over a period of time to show John's gradual weight-loss onscreen.<br />The film is releasing tomorrow after a delay of about two years because of disagreement between producers-distributors Percept and Big Pictures. Kukunoor, 43, says he is approaching the release with a sense of relief.<br /><br />"It was very frustrating when it did not release but now it is total relief. The waiting period is over and it was not in my control and had nothing to do with the film," says Kukunoor, whose another film 'Yeh Hausala' is also awaiting release for sometime. Asked whether the audience will accept a film that should have come two years back, Kukunoor is quick to clarify that his story does not carry a "dated" look.<br /><br />"We had not even set the release date in 2008 when the film got pulled so not much work was done on the movie in terms of promotions. So it does not have a dated look and as far as material is concerned the story is timeless because it is valid at any point," he says.<br /><br />After the release of 'Aashayein', Kukunoor is also planning to get back to his first love-- acting. Kukunoor debuted as a director-actor with his first small budget film 'Hyderabad Blues' in 1998 and has done cameos in 'Dor', '3 Deewarein' and 'Aashayein'.<br /><br />"I have been offered some roles but they were not something that attracted me. I want to do a good role. Last time I felt like this was in '3 Deewarein'," he says.<br />Kukunoor last two films 'Bombay to Bangkok' and Akshay Kumar starrer '8X10' did not work at the box office. The director agrees that his image as a serious filmmaker may have contributed to their failure.<br /><br />Kukunoor is ready with 3-4 scripts that he wrote after 'Aashayein'. "I have four-five scripts with him and there is a love story also. It would be interesting to see which one takes of first. Once this film is released I will have more clarity. But one thing is sure my new film will have a new face," he says.</p>