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"I feel screenplay writers are the heroes of a film and not necessarily the stars. Writers are now getting their due. I did the same in my first production `Vicky Donor` and our writer Juhi Chakraborty has done a wonderful job. I feel our industry should be less star-driven and focus more on the content," John told reporters here last evening.
"I hope producers stop giving undue importance to stars. It is just about casting right people and having faith in the cast. And it is important for actors to deliver and that is how they become stars," he said.
The actor-turned-producer is of the view that instead of remaking Hollywood movies, filmmakers should focus on something new or think of book adaptations. "We need to stop remaking Hollywood films and need to start buying rights of books and creating good cinema. We are evolving as an industry," he mentioned.
He also complimented filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, in whose latest movie `Shootout at Wadala` John is playing the lead, for giving his writer Hussain the right due and focussing more on the content of a movie.
The content that comes out of this country and from filmmakers like Sanjay Gupta is at par with the west, it is just that we need to learn how to project it," he added. "Also, I am not much in favor of the industry being called Bollywood because I want to believe that we are not trying to sound like Hollywood," John said.
Meanwhile, the actor is looking forward to Sanjay Gupta`s film, `Shootout at Wadala`, where he plays the role of gangster Manya Surve.
The film dramatises the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police, where gangster Manya Surve was shot dead at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology in Wadala in 1982. The film is slated to release in January 2013.
"We are not trying to glorify villains in this film and we have shown them as they are. For the first time, I am playing an author-backed role. A lot of research went into the role...it is different high," the model-actor said.
"I am a strong believer in films like these and I am happy to be a part of it. It is shaping out beautifully," he expressed.
John said they had little information about Manya Surve, but there were details available about police officer Issac Bagwan, who shot the gangster. Based on the information, the research was conducted and Manya Surve`s character was shaped up. The role of Bagwan is played by Anil Kapoor, in the movie.
"We have tried to be as authentic as possible. We are not here to glorify gangsters and that is what it makes the film stand apart," he added.
On his feelings regarding Manya Surve, John said, "He was a middle-class Maharashtrian boy who wanted to become an engineer and because of certain circumstances he became a gangster. It was the circumstances that made him what he was but that is the story with most of them. But it is about the path what we want to chose whether right or wrong. And he chose the wrong path."
