Bollywood heartthrob John Abraham is following in the charitable footsteps of Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt.

While Pitt helped rehabilitate those displaced by cyclone Katrina in New Orleans, Abraham is building homes for poor families in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The actor joined Habitat for Humanity's annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project this week and worked alongside volunteers including actress Pooja Bedi and Jacqueline Fernandez.

The Bollywood trio helped build and repair homes in partnership with low-income families in need of decent housing, a press statement from Asianet said.

"It's great being part of the building process," said Abraham, who was named a Habitat Global Hero for his work in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

The greatest thing about the endeavour, Abraham said, is its revenue model, with homeowner families helping to pay for houses for future families.

"I find this really special. And I think it's a great model for other organizations," the actor said.

Habitat's Carter Work Project is an intensive week-long build that takes place in a different city around the world each year.

Former US President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn are leading the annual Habitat for Humanity build in five Asian countries.