Mumbai: If you spot John Abraham with a football these days then don’t be surprised because the actor has taken his role in his new film Dhana Dhana Dhan Goal more seriously than one could imagine.

“I think football is the new cricket. That’s something I really like to profess. I hope football becomes the new cricket very soon,” a very enthusiastic John said.

This year John's three releases, Salam-e-Ishq, Water and No Smoking, failed to make a mark at the box office. But he is hopeful about Goal.

The tried and tested formula of underdogs turning into heroes has worked worldwide in all sports films and John is hoping that he strikes lucky too.

“Goal is a simple and unpretentious underdogs going to victory film. It doesn’t have any more dimensions to it. It’s a lovely simple family story,” John said.

Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film also stars Arshad Warsi, Bipasha Bashu and Boman Irani. And though John has been playing football since his school days, shooting for the film wasn't easy.

“It’s difficult to shoot because we were shooting in zero degrees, minus four degree, minus eight degrees and then the ball hits you at the wrong place and in that temperature you are really in a lot of pain,” John said.

So, how would he rate himself as a footballer?

“The fact that I have played the game, I would rate myself five out of 10 in real life but in the film I am much better, probably eight-nine out of 10,” John said.

And now let’s hear it from someone who has a good say in John's life. “I would rate him eight out of 10 as a footballer and as an actor in the film I would say 10. I don’t think anyone else could have done this role,” actor Bipasha Basu said.

We would like to believe too, but our verdict will have to wait till November 23 when the film hits theatres.