John Abraham is chocolate boy no more. Be it his latest release, Race 2, or his upcoming film, Shootout at Wadala, the actor has had an onscreen image makeover with negative roles. “I love playing an antagonist. I find normal very boring. So given an option where you play an antagonist or a hero, I would opt for antagonist. It’s good to be bad as bad looks good, so I enjoy that space,” says John, who turned 40 last month. His physique, though, defies his age. “I have got the mind of a 50-year-old and the body of a 25-year-old and it’s always going to be like that. It’s about being fit. Workouts should be a way of life and not a phase of life. If I feel unfit, then it’s a bad day, bad life, I don’t think I deserve to live. So I make sure I hit the gym everyday.”

 Apart from his strict fitness regime, it’s controversies that are keeping John busy. The actor recently worked with Punjabi rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh on a song called ‘Party on my mind’. Singh had angered anti-rape activists as many of his songs feature abusive lyrics. “May be that (the usage of offensive lyrics) was a phase in his life where he probably wanted to be sensationalist. I guess he will work on it now,” says the actor.

 On the personal front, John would rather keep it private. While there was buzz that he will marry ladylove Priya Runchal in December last year, he says, “As far as my private life is concerned, I am fiercely guarded. Even if I do (marry), I don’t know how many people would know about it.”