Nathan Jones: My jail buddies would call me Robin Hood

Nathan Jones

At seven feet, Australian wrestler-turned-actor Nathan Jones is menacing. His maniacal laugh (which he insists is inspired by Heath Ledger's Joker) can send chills down your spine. But, he is quick to engage you in a heartening conversation. In a chat with hitlist, the actor of 'Mad Max: Fury Road' and 'Troy' fame talks about playing super-villain in his Bollywood debut, 'A Flying Jatt', and how his murky past changed his perspective. Excerpts:

Q. You have debuted as a villain in Bollywood. Do you have a mean streak?
A. I have never felt like a baddie, but look convincingly evil. I hope more Bollywood offers come my way. I want to make people laugh.

Q. In the film, you draw energy from pollution. Do you feel you would've been stronger in Mumbai than in Australia?
A. (Laughs). Honestly, I haven't seen so much of Mumbai to gauge that. But, whatever said and done, it is inspiring to see Bollywood doing something about it. They are making movies like this to create awareness. Human beings are fast becoming narcissistic and selfish, heading down a dark path that will lead to destruction of the planet. I read some reviews where they have compared this film to a documentary on environmental awareness. What kind of twisted people get upset with a clean movie with a relevant message?

Q. How did you land the film?
A. Director Remo D'souza and Tiger Shroff were discussing my film, 'Troy', and thought of getting me for this film. When they reached out, I expected it to be a corny script. But, it was a comedy-action movie and I was game from the word go.

Q. Tiger is almost half your size. Did you ever hurt him by mistake during action scenes?
A. I tried to be as gentle as possible with him, but hurt him pretty bad during one scene. I was wearing heavy bracelets and ended up knocking the wind out of him. But he didn't get upset. Even I am quite like that. During my MMA days, if I were punched by mistake, I would let it pass. Controlling your rage is the key to lasting longer in the business.

Q. What are your most distinct memories of India?
A. I cannot forget the castle and bonfires while shooting in Rajasthan. Indians are warm, always wearing their kindest smile. I love Indian food though I can see myself becoming fat from eating such wholesome meals everyday.

Q. Bollywood or Hollywood, which do you like better?
A. I haven't worked much here, but must give credit to Bollywood for using my potential as an actor. I felt pampered as people would fret about our safety. Hollywood lacks this family-like feel.

Q. From seven years in an Australian prison to a well-known actor, you've come a long way…
A. I was young and had a problem with authority, but even then, I never did anything out of hatred or greed. My jail buddies would call me Robin Hood. It was in prison that I learnt what is legal is not always right. We sometimes make heroes out of absolute villains. Ninety per cent of people in jail are nice and the world's biggest leaders aren't.

Q. What next?
A. I want to do a dance film with Tiger. For a big guy, I am not a bad dancer. I get typecast because of my size, but want to try my hand at comedy and romance.