(Image source from: easterneye)

John Abraham revealed that he was once called Slumdog Millionaire for being Indian and the actor shut him down with an epic response.

"I remember someone asked me once... He saw my passport, and he said, Slumdog Millionaire. I said, 'No, millionaire.' Not for any other reason, but because I can buy you out and my country can buy you out today. We rule, Indians rule," he told an entertainment website.

Slumdog Millionaire was slammed by many Indians for fixating on poverty.

John said that he has not consciously made a choice to sign patriotic films. "It's by default, and not by design. If there's a sense of patriotism, I am happy," he said.

The actor asked why could India not glorify its soldiers on screen, when other countries do it. "I think America does it with great success... When they do a Lone Survivor, when they do any American war film. We as Indians, when we watch an American film we think to ourselves, Oh man, I want to be a part of the American army. Literally," he said.

"If they can glorify their soldiers, government, and country so much, why can't we do the same for our country in the best possible way that our youngsters want to see our country. And films like RAW are an answer to that, where you come out and say 'Hell, it's so cool to be an agent but it is tough and this is what you have to do, it is crazy,'" he added.

On the work front, John is currently gearing up for the release of spy thriller Romeo Akbar Walter directed by Robbie Grewal. The film is said to be inspired by true events. The spy thriller also features Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and Sikander Kher in key roles.

Romeo Akbar Walter is produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Dheeraj Wadhwan, Ajay Kapoor, Vanessa Walia, and Gary Grewal. It will open in theaters on April 5.

-Sangam Sowmya