For John Abraham, 2006 has been a lukewarm year so far with his much publicized SALAAM E ISHQ failing to click at the box office. Even his WATER, which was critically as well as commercially acclaimed worldwide, proved to be a dampener when released in India earlier this year.

Now after a six month lull, John is back into the thick of things with two interesting projects lined up for release in an almost back to back manner. The first to arrive would be NO SMOKING next Friday where John plays a central protagonist who is addicted to cigarettes. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the film appears to be an interesting story waiting to be told.

Exactly a month later, i.e. on 23rd November, his other high profile project GOAL would be coming on screens. With football as the central element of this Vivek Agnihotri directed film, GOAL, which was originally slated for release in August but later pushed by a few months, is another film which is touted to keep the fire burning at the box office.

NO SMOKING and then GOAL - it is certainly going to be some crucial weeks ahead for John Abraham.