How to soften the blow of US-imposed tariffs on India? John Abraham has an idea

Mumbai: Bollywood actor John Abraham, currently basking in the success of his streaming film Tehran, has weighed in on a pressing international economic issue, the heavy tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on India.

Known for his interest in geopolitics, John suggested a strategic approach to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. According to him, India should explore and strengthen alternative export markets beyond the US to diversify its trade dependencies.

Talking about how the makers mounted ‘Tehran’, he said, “Of course, we entered this space with our eyes wide open. I was very confident about what I was getting into. I knew I would face hurdles with the censor board and everyone concerned, but I wanted a voice and to make the film I wanted to make. It was an informed decision, and that’s why Tehran happened. We wanted to break down the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics for our audiences and explain that what happens in the Middle East has an impact on India, or, for that matter, whatever happens in the world has an impact on India”.

“Even today, with Trump and his tariffs, a lot of us don’t care about 25% or 50%, but yes, they are going to have a massive impact on India. The good news is that we are pretty sound as a country. If we have to address this tariff, we have to look at alternative markets. So, for people who think this is not going to affect our country, it is going to affect our country,” he added.

Meanwhile, ‘Tehran’ deals with politically charged themes and delves deep into the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics, subjects rarely tackled so boldly in Indian cinema. For John Abraham, the decision to be part of this project was about more than just playing an action hero. It was about lending a voice to a narrative that connects global events with India, and bringing to light how international shifts, conflicts, and policies ripple into our everyday lives.

The film also stars Manushi Chhillar, Neeru Bajwa, and Madhurima Tuli, under the direction of Arun Gopalan. It is inspired by real-life events, and it explores espionage, fractured alliances, and high-stakes global politics. The film is available to stream on ZEE5.

Meanwhile, the geopolitical landscape is rapidly changing across the world. While Washington DC has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, a move that will impact several sectors. To counter the economic tremors, India is strengthening its ties with China and Russia. NSA Ajit Doval recently confirmed PM Modi’s China visit to participate in the SCO Summit 2025. IANS