John Abraham: From Modelling Days to Bollywood’s Most Trusted Action Hero

John Abraham (born December 17, 1972) is an Indian actor, writer, and film producer who works in Hindi films. Known for his cool action hero style, he has received one National Film Award and four Filmfare Award nominations. Abraham has been on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2017.

Also read:Israeli Foreign MinistryScreens John Abraham’s The Diplomat as a Special Tribute to India-Israel Ties

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Famous films

After a successful modeling career, Abraham made her acting debut in the erotic thriller Jism (2003), which was a sleeper hit. That same year, she appeared in the supernatural romantic thriller Saaya and the crime thriller Paap, which received mixed reviews. She gained recognition with the action film Dhoom (2004) and the comedies Garam Masala (2005), Taxi No. 9211 (2006), and Dostana (2008). She then starred in the critically acclaimed dramas Water (2005), Kabul Express (2006), and New York (2009), the last of which was also a commercial success.

Also read:John Abraham Credits Aditya Chopra & Karan Johar as Biggest Guiding Forces in His Career

Despite several commercial failures over the next decade, Abraham found success with the 2013 action thrillers Race 2 and Shootout at Wadala, and the drama Madras Cafe; as well as comedies like Housefull 2 ​​(2012) and Welcome Back (2015). Abraham subsequently achieved his biggest commercial successes with the action dramas Dishoom (2016), Parmanu (2018), Satyameva Jayate (2018), Batla House (2019), Satyameva Jayate 2 (2021), and Pathan (2023), the last of which remains his highest-grossing film. Abraham ventured into film production under his banner JA Entertainment with Vicky Donor (2012), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Since then, he has produced several of his own films and also wrote the story for Attack: Part 1 (2022).

Also read:The Diplomat: John Abraham Praises Real-Life Indian Diplomat J.P. Singh

In addition to his film career, he co-owns the Indian Super League football team NorthEast United FC. He is also a vegan bodybuilder and animal rights advocate.

Family

 Early life and family Abraham was born on 17 December 1972 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, into a family of mixed religious and ethnic heritage. His father is a Malayali Syrian Christian from Kerala, and his mother is an Iranian Parsi, with many relatives living in Iran. Abraham's Parsi name is "Farhan," but he was baptized as "John." He has a younger brother named Alan Abraham. He considers himself a spiritual person but does not adhere to any particular religion. Abraham grew up in Mumbai and attended the Bombay Scottish School. He studied at Jai Hind College, University of Mumbai, and then earned an MBA from NMIMS, Mumbai.

Also read:John Abraham portrays a senior government officer in 'The Diplomat ' set to release on March 7 2025

John Abraham's wife is Priya Runchal. She is an Indian-American financial analyst and investment banker. Priya hails from McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, although her education and professional career were in the United States.

Career

John Abraham Filmography Modeling Career and Acting Debut (1999–2003) Abraham began his modeling career by appearing in music videos for Hans Raj Hans's song "Jhanjar" and Punjabi singer Jazzy B's "Surma." He then joined the media firm Time & Space Media Entertainment Promotions Ltd., which closed due to financial difficulties. Later, he worked as a media planner at Enterprises-Nexus. In 1999, he won the Gladrags Manhunt contest and went to the Philippines for Manhunt International, where he placed second. He later modeled in Hong Kong, London, and New York City, and appeared in several commercials and music videos for singers including Pankaj Udhas, Hans Raj Hans, and Babul Supriyo.

To hone his acting skills, Abraham joined the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute and completed acting courses alongside modeling assignments. Considered "India's Top Model" before entering films, Abraham made his acting debut in 2003 with Jism, an erotic thriller that was considered a "hit" according to Box Office India, grossing ₹13,250,000. He played Kabir Lal, a poor, alcoholic, and philandering lawyer who falls in love with Sonia Khanna (played by Bipasha Basu), the wife of a traveling millionaire, and conspires with Kabir to kill her husband. The film received mixed to positive reviews. 

Movies

John Abraham has several major projects in the pipeline, though. He's recently appeared in action thrillers like Tehran (releasing August 2025), The Diplomat (March 2025), and will soon be seen in a potential sequel to Force, as well as playing Duryodhana in a modern Mahabharata film. Production on these projects will continue until 2026 and beyond, focusing on high-concept action and biopics.

Songs

FAQs

Q1. Who is John Abraham?

Ans: John Abraham is an Indian actor, writer, and film producer who works predominantly in Hindi films.

Q2. When was John Abraham born?

Ans: John Abraham was born on 17 December 1972.

Q3. What kind of roles is John Abraham known for?

Ans: He is known for his strong action hero image and serious characters.

Q4. Which was John Abraham's first Bollywood film?

Ans: She made her Bollywood debut in the year 2003 with the film 'Jism'.

Q5. Which is John Abraham's highest-grossing film?

Ans: 'Pathan' (2023) is the highest-grossing film of John Abraham's career.

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