Even as Parmanu keeps audiences hooked in theatres, John Abraham will be soon leaving Mumbai for a gruelling shooting stint. The actor will set off on the start-to-finish three-month shooting schedule of Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW), which tees off on June 10 in Gujarat. The film, an espionage thriller set in the 1970s, will also see Jackie Shroff and Sikander Kher join John onscreen.
Recently John had revealed that shooting for the film would prove to be a real challenge. “RAW is the most difficult film for me. The story is so convincing and it’s a very tough film for me. I am very nervous about it. I am challenging myself with this project and I am glad I am doing it.”
John had stepped in to play the lead after Sushant Singh Rajput opted out in October last year. The film will see John giving his well-built image a miss as he gets into character. As a result, RAW will have a much leaner John. Director Robbie had shared, “John will be attending multiple workshops before the shoot for around 15-20 days to understand how a spy works. He needs to understand how things worked in 1971 and how different they are today in terms of training and interactions. The mental conditioning is as important for a role like this and John’s commitment is fantastic.”
Filming will start in Gujarat, followed by schedules in Jammu and Kashmir and Nepal. The schedule will end with some portions being filmed in Mumbai. Co-producer Bunty Walia reveals that the leading lady, who will join the cast in Kashmir, will be announced soon.
RAW will feature John and Jackie playing characters based on real people, while Sikander is touted to play John’s nemesis, who has shades of grey. The cast will sport unique looks, created by National Award-winning makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad and famous costume designer Amera Pulwani. The excitement is building already!
