MUMBAI: Percept Picture Company has announced John Abraham will be the star in its forthcoming production Aashayein, to be directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Aashayein is the story of a compulsive gambler, Rahul, who discovers new meanings of fortune and life through a dramatic turn of events.

Kukunoor, who has always been known for strong storytelling rather than impressive casting, says, "I cast John in my film because he suits the role. Moreover, keeping in mind the box office economics, I believe that by casting John I can make a good film and still keep its content intact."

Kukunoor's faith in Abraham's capabilities were reinforced by the fact that Abraham has worked in Deepa Mehta's Water, he adds.

It seems Abraham is also shifting his main focus from masala flicks to meaningful cinema, especially after doing films like Water, Kabul Express and now Aashayein. John says, "A film is a film; there is nothing mainstream and offbeat about it, it's the idea of the film that matters to me. I like to lend myself to scripts that I truly believe in and Aashayein was one such. I liked the script so much that I adjusted my dates to shoot for this film."