Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently lauded John Abraham’s performance in the upcoming political thriller ‘The Diplomat’, set to hit theatres on March 14. Kashyap, who previously worked with John in ‘No Smoking’ (2007), praised the actor for delivering a nuanced performance, free from unnecessary action or “herogiri.”

“I really liked ‘The Diplomat’,” Kashyap told The Hindu. “I told John, ‘After a long time, I’m seeing you as a very good actor.’ He is solely playing a character. And Shivam Nair has made a really engaging film.”

Directed by Shivam Nair and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and John Abraham, among others, The Diplomat also features Sadia Khateeb, Prapti Shukla, Jagjeet Sandhu, and Sharib Hashmi in key roles.

Meanwhile, John Abraham recently reflected on his 2005 film ‘Water’, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film but went largely unnoticed in India. In an interview with BookMyShow’s YouTube channel, John recalled receiving praise from Hollywood icons while struggling for recognition at home.

“When I went to the Academy Awards, I had the honour of meeting Steven Spielberg, and he loved my performance in Water, whereas no one here even saw it for a day,” John shared. “Charlize Theron also told me, ‘I loved what you were processing,’ but no one here talked about it.”

For John, ‘Water’ was a pivotal film, challenging the industry’s perception of him as just a “beefcake” actor. Despite its international acclaim, he believes it didn’t get the appreciation it deserved in India.

With ‘The Diplomat’, John looks set to break more stereotypes and showcase his depth as an actor once again.