John remembers walking the ramp in a lehenga

In his early days as a model John Abraham had even walked the ramp in a lehenga! The macho actor said though some in the audience were taken aback at his outfit, he is grateful to the designer Mona Lamba who gave him the opportunity in 2000.

"I remember walking the ramp in a lehenga you (Mona of the designer duo MonaPali) had designed. As I was walking I saw some in the audience loved it, while others were a bit taken aback. But thank you madam, for giving me the opportunity in my early days as a model," John told reporters in Kolkata.

He was in town to unveil the logo of the first ever Kolkata Fashion and Lifestyle Week.

Commenting on his fashion statement, he said: "For me, the best fashion is the one I am comfortable with."

John has no favourite designers, but said: "Among Kolkata designers Sabyasachi (Mukherjee) is brilliant."

Encouraging the young designers, he said: "You all have a long way to go. Remember, fashion is not about actors who wear your dresses, but about the dress itself."
Speaking about girlfriend Bipasha Basu's fitness DVD for women John said it's equally good for men and soon she may come out with the second edition of it.

"I... well... feel she is in the prime shape of her life. And though it is meant for women, it is equally good for men. I think she is coming out with a second DVD. I will follow that too," said John.

The 39-year-old, however, clarified that he has no such plans for himself.

"Right now, I have no such plans. May be 15-20 years later I will come out with a DVD when I am fitter," he said.

Praising Bipasha, he said that she looked in amazingly good shape after regularly doing the fitness exercises.

Abraham also had lot of good things to say about Bipasha's Bengali movie "Sab Charitra Kalpanik". "It is such a beautiful film. Sometimes certain cinemas miss out on some angles. But Bengali cinema is so layered."

Asked why he has not been seen in any movie since "New York", John said: "Earlier I was doing lot of movies. Some of them were good. Some not so good. I am learning through experience and being selective."

He says that before signing contract for a film, he gives importance to three things - the entire set up, director and producer and the hero.

"But I must say in lot of films now, the hero is discreet, as one finds in 'Sab Charitra Kalpanik'."

Indo-Asian News Service