Award functions are no less than circuses for John Abraham who says he doesn't take these gala events seriously.

"I don't go for award functions. I don't know. They are circus acts and I don't go for circuses. So, I don't take award function seriously," John told PTI.

The 43-year-old actor was in the capital to promote his upcoming film "Rocky Handsome".

Recently Riteish Deshmukh, hosting an awards show with Parineeti Chopra, jokingly said the "Madras Cafe" actor can never learn acting even 15 years down the line.

Asked about his take on the joke, John replied, "Riteish is a friend and in awards functions, people do make fun of each other. I take it in a good spirit, positively. Riteish is a good boy and I don't take things negatively at all."

Riteish and John worked together in 2012 comedy "Housefull 2". The actor-producer is all excited to team up again with his "Force" director Nishikanth Kamat for "Rocky Handsome", which is a loose adaptation of Korean movie "The Man from Nowhere".

"I always wanted to work with him again. I am a fan of his movies. I fell in love with him after I watched 'Mumbai Meri Jaan'. It's my good fortune that I worked with him in 'Force'.

When I got a fantastic script in the form of 'Rocky Handsome', I directly went to Nishi (Nishikanth Kamat)." In the film, releasing on March 25, John is playing the character of revenge seeker Kabir Ahlawat.

"My character is complex and layered. He had been through many hard experiences in life. So, he is very tough. But there are sequences in the film, where he is emotionally charged too."

Co-produced by John and Sunir Khetrapal, the film stars child actress Diya Chalwad in a prominent role besides Shruti Haasan in a special appearance.