"John is a politically aware actor. He reads the newspaper every morning, knows what`s going on in the world. He is clued in to the dynamics of the separatist strife in Sri Lanka. The minute I told him about my film `Jaffna`, he was on board," said Sircar.
John will produce "Jaffna" as well.
Not willing to divulge too many details at the moment, Sircar says it`s a political thriller set in the troubled violence-ridden city of Jaffna.
John would be in and out of Sri Lanka in the coming months to get a hang of the political situation in the pretty little country.
"I am no stranger to themes of separatism and extremist violence. My first film `Yahaan` was about Kashmiri separatism. And now `Jaffna` would be carrying the theme of extremism to another extreme," said Sircar.
Mani Ratnam`s Tamil film ‘Kannathil Muttumital’ with R. Madhavan in the lead is one of the notable films on the LTTE.
"But that was a love story set against the LTTE backdrop. My film is a political thriller," asserts Sircar.
Though not willing to divulge too many details on John`s character, the director hinted that the actor would require a great deal of preparation for his part.
"John believes in `Jaffna`, as much as he believes in `Vicky Donor`. That`s why he stepped in to produce both the projects. He saw the full film `Vicky Donor` and was completely kicked by it. He thinks Ayushmaan is a star in the making. I can`t deny Ayushmaan has given an absolutely natural performance and even composed a track, a love ballad, for `Vicky Donor`," said the director.
"We shot the film in Delhi, my hometown and Ayushmaan`s. I know scores of films are shot in the capital. But I`d like to think I`ve captured Delhi like no one before," he added.
John would be going all-out to generate awareness about sperm donation in the weeks preceding the release of ‘Vicky Donor’. He will also be shooting a promotional video with Shoojit Sircar.
"It`s not an item song, as reported in a section of the film. Please! `Vickey Donor` is a humorous take on sperm donation. Where would an item song fit in? John is doing a promotional video on why sperm donation is not something to be giggled about behind closed doors," said Sircar, whose "Johnny Mastana" didn`t find favours.
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John Abraham