The 43-year-old actor, who was under rigorous training for the Nishikanth Kamat-directed film, said the action in it is lyrical.
"The film has the world-class action. It's not like any other action film. The stunts in it are lyrical as you need to maintain a certain posture when you are fighting with knives. The chances of hurting yourself increase if you don't maintain a certain posture. I trained 14 hours a day for one month," John told reporters.
The "Madras cafe" star plays revenge seeker Kabir Ahlawat, who shares a warm bond with an eight-year-old girl.
Asked about his experiences of sharing screen space with Baby Diya Chalwad, John said, "The child was very special. She was always on time on sets. She was just seven-year-old but she was mature. She is a gymnast and after the shoot she used to show me gymnastics."
The film is releasing on Holi weekend and will also have a clash with Hollywood's much-touted movie "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".
But John is unfazed by the box office battle.
"You have to decide, what you want to see? You want to see a superhero or a real hero? Besides action, 'Rocky Handsome' has emotion and soul too. Being a producer, I will not market a bad film."
The film also has a special appearance by John's "Welcome Back" co-star Shruti Haasan.
"Rocky Handsome" also marks the acting debut of its director, who plays the main antagonist.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
)