MUMBAI - After making the gritty and acclaimed “Mumbai Meri Jaan”, which revolved around the 2006 serial train bombings in the city, one expected the shy yet brilliant Nishikant Kamat to delve deeper into terrorism. But the filmmaker wants to make a masala entertainer instead.

He is scripting an out-and-out escapist film - a full-on masala action adventure. And Nishikant has roped in John Abraham to play the lead.

“Yes, what you’ve heard is true. I’ve had my share of realism for now. My first film ‘Dombivli Fast’ (in Marathi), its Tamil remake (featuring Madhavan) and ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ all went into the realistic topical creative space. I now want to try my hand at an escapist entertainer,” Kamat said.

“It’s a challenge. Because it’s very difficult to do the incredible in a credible manner,” he added.

Nishikant is also committed to doing a Hindi version of “Dombivli Fast” for producers Abbas-Mustan.

“But that’s not my priority right now,” he said.

John, who is a big fan of Kamat’s “Mumbai Meri Jaan”, was apparently instrumental in convincing production house UTV to take on the project.

While refusing to comment on the project with Kamat, John feels there were four award-worthy performances in “Mumbai Meri Jaan”.

“I’m talking about Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Madhavan and Irrfan Khan. What performances, man! I’d hope to equal that level of acting in my work,” the actor said.

John, who has been labelled Bollywood’s favourite pin-up actor after “Dostana”, now wants to be noticed for his acting skills too.

“The body-beautiful bracket is not a bad place to be in. But I’d also like to be recognised as a capable actor now,” he added.