Actor John Abraham was the “first and only” choice as the antagonist in the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan, the film’s director Siddharth Anand said on Monday. John’s character, too, was written keeping the actor in mind, he added.

“For Pathaan to be larger than life, we needed to have a towering villain who is equally larger than life. We wanted someone who is ruthless and suave and commands an electric presence on screen. So the villain in Pathaan was written keeping John Abraham in mind,” Siddharth said.

John plays the role of a ruthless mercenary in the film, set to release in theatres on January 25, 2023.

“He was our first and only choice, and we were certain that we wanted a villain that they would cherish forever. I’m delighted to see the response that people have showered on John as he takes on Shah Rukh Khan in a blood-soaked, adrenaline-pumping rivalry that will be epic in every sense possible. John is the perfect opposite of Pathaan on screen. It will be a thrilling showdown,” added Siddharth.

The film marks the return of Shah Rukh in a lead role after a four-year-long hiatus and numerous cameos in films this year. Pathaan also stars Deepika Padukone.