“Both the bikes and babes were really fast!” 

By IndiaFM News Bureau, August 27, 2004 - 07:24 IST

Man and machine, John looks smashing riding the 1300cc speed devil in Dhoom. Leather jackets, glares and attitude to rub on, John is a road rage for sure. In an interview with IndiaFM, the handsome hunk spills the blast he had playing a thug in the biker blast Dhoom.

Dhoom is the first biker film from Bollywood. How does it feel to be a part of it?
It feels absolutely great. I love biking, and now here I am doing a biker film. What can I say, it's been fabulous.

Dhoom also happens to be your first action film. How was the experience?
Right. Dhoom is my first full-blown action film, which got me very excited. And the experience has been nothing short of fantastic.

Lot has been said about Doom being a biker film. Now tell us about the plot.
The plot is very simple. Just as the promos say, 'A brave cop, a smart thief, a cool rider'. Dhoom is just about that. We have no sub plots running, nothing to fox the audiences. It's a simple subject.

What is your character like?
I play a thief, Kabir. We have given zero justification for his character. He loves to rob and so robs. Period.

The film has some daredevil stunts. How did you manage?
With action, I was in a comfort-zone. So when they asked me to ride, jump and scoop, I had no hassles at all.

Action films consume a lot of time. Was it any different in Dhoom?
I remember, when I signed up for the film, the production house gave me 27th August as the release date, which hasn't changed. That speaks a lot a about the efficiency of the production house. So, it's been fabulous.

A bike buff yourself, which is the speed devil that you drive in Dhoom?
I drive a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc, it zooms from 1-100km in 2.8 seconds flat! Cool nah!

Did being a mobike freak help you add any subtle nuances to the character, which would have been otherwise missed?
Nuances I don't know. But yes, it made my action sequences a lot easier and convincing onscreen.

Where do you like biking the best?
I like biking all over the place. But yes, nights are the best as I have roads clear to myself.

Is Bipasha fond of bikes too?
Oh yes, she is fond of bikes. She doesn't like it too fast though.

How was it co-starring with Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra?
[smiles] Uday toh… I love him. He's superb. The boys are well mannered and well cultured. It was a pleasure working with them. Given a chance, I would love to work with them all over again.

The stunt that you enjoyed…
There is this sequence where I drive a bike at 80 kmph into a train moving at 100 kmph. Now that was some action. That was quite a challenge.

Tell us John, which is faster, the bikes or babes?
[Laughs] I think both are equally fast! They'll give each other some sharp competition.

The fastest speed that you have driven your speed machine?
Fastest would be 305 kmph.

ABHISHEK BACHCHAN On 'Phir Milenge', 'Dhoom', 'Rakht', 'Naach'