"The Powerful Purpose Behind Veda Will Touch Hearts", says John Abraham

Your character, a court-martialled soldier, showcases intense action sequences. You are known for your action-packed roles. What makes your role in Vedaa different or special for you?
I have always admired soldiers - they have so much courage and selflessness. So whenever someone has to offer a script where I have to play an army official, it is an instant yes for me. Playing Abhimanyu was so liberating. Vedaa is one of the most challenging characters I have taken up in recent years because it is gritty and celebrates the individuals who have nothing yet achieve something in their lives. Standing like the Rock of Gibraltar in Vedaa’s incredible journey has been quite grounding. I think just the cause associated with Vedaa is meaty enough to find its ground which I can’t wait for people to discover.

What was the toughest scene to shoot in Vedaa, and why?
For me, it was the climax of Vedaa which was taxing not only physically but also mentally. I feel I just surrendered to Nikkhil’s vision and was all ears to him. Shooting at Jodhpur at 49-50 degrees was physically tiring, the intense action sequences were nerve-wracking but the script demanded it. To portray a character like Abhimanyu who is broken yet has a sense of purpose resonated with me deeply. Without giving anything away about what happens in the climax, to get into the skin of my character was extremely challenging and that had to be executed to perfection.

What do you think viewers will enjoy the most about Vedaa?
The story of Vedaa is what will catch people’s attention first I believe because it is so prevalent in the day and age we live in. Despite making so much progress in different sectors of life like science, technology and sports, I feel that we are still getting there and films like Vedaa can be a prominent tool to at least start relevant conversations. 

This is your first collaboration with Sharvari. How was your experience working with her?
I have always been an admirer of Sharvari right from her first outing as an artist and it is a privilege to watch her evolve and grow with each passing day. You can take that from me when I say she is one of the most hard-working actors out there. I see her choosing characters that are tough and challenging. She is someone who doesn’t want to conform to the traditional standards of beauty which is refreshing to see in today’s times. In my view, Vedaa is one of Sharvari’s career-best performances and if she continues to raise the standard when it comes to selecting scripts, she is going to be a force to reckon with.