John Abraham's role model is Aamir

John Abraham has found a perfect role model. And it's Aamir Khan whose career strategies are rapidly becoming the most emulated in tinsel town.

Most of John's friends and Bipasha Basu think he has given his career's best performance in Abbas Tyrewala's new love story earlier entitled 1-800-Love now entitled Call Me...Dil after song in Tyrewala's film. Now that the date for the film has been locked in - it's October 15 - John is setting aside a large chunk of the year just to nurture and promote what he considers to be the most important film of his career.

John will personally supervise every aspect of the film release from publicity stills and posters to the chain of theatres to be selected, to the festivals that the film will be sent to before its commercial release.

If the diligent single-minded release strategies remind you of a certain meticulous perfectionist of a Khan, then the resemblance is certainly not coincidental. John is definitely inspired by Aamir, and he has no qualms in admitting it.

Apparently, John was keen to release this film during Aamir's magical Christmas week. But the producers who have already suffered huge losses because of the postponements couldn't wait that long.

Since the film's director and producer are both close to Aamir (Tyrewala's debut film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na was produced by Aamir and producer Madhu Mantena's blockbuster Ghajini starred Aamir) they've no objections whatsoever to John's Operation Aamir.

That isn't all. Apparently like Aamir, John has decided to stay away from all awards function, in India and abroad. Though he makes it clear he's friendly with all the awardees, John has also made it known that he won't attend any of the awards functions. John confirms all his Aamir-inspired marketing manoeuvres. "Aamir is truly inspiring in the way he conducts his career. And his success ratio is mind-boggling. Who wouldn't want to follow in his footsteps? I certainly do. And I'm trying. In my own humble way I've been repeatedly taking risks with my career. Like Aamir I don't believe in staying in the comfort zone. As for awards, I think the endorsement that your performance gets from the audience provides more satisfaction for an actor than anything else."