With his long locks, drop dead good looks and lean, muscular frame, Bobby Deol looked like the perfect matinee star. And he did prove himself with films like Soldier and Gupt. But slowly, strangely, his aura faded. Producers started staying away and so did fans. Yes, the Deol charisma still kept him around but he wasn’t considered a dependable box office draw any more. It seemed like Bobby himself had lost faith, in himself. There were reports of alcoholism, of bouts of depression. People loyal to him insisted it’s just a phase. That he’ll bounce back. And proving the naysayers wrong, he did. Deols are known for their physique and Bobby hit the gym with a vengeance, getting his body back in shape. Being part of talked-about films like Race 3 and Housefull 4 made the masses take notice of him once more. At 50, Bobby was ready to begin again. He rediscovered his love for acting. His performances in the gritty cop drama Class Of ’83 (Netflix) and the Prakash Jha directed series Ashram are proof of that. He’s smiling more now, and these smiles are genuine, they are the smiles of a survivor who’s having the last laugh..
Talking about your film Class Of ’83, this is your most serious role ever. How challenging was it to play a role like that?
I was actually looking to playing a challenging character. I was searching for a change of image. Of course, I was nervous stepping out of my comfort zone, which is exactly what I liked about the character. The speciality of this film is that the characters of this film are not larger than life. They are quite normal. There are moments of heroism in their lives but they
aren’t over the top. I enjoyed doing this role thoroughly.
What was the toughest part of playing a cop?
Vijay Singh isn’t your regular film cop. My priority was that I shouldn’t come across as Bobby Deol in the film. Because when you are enacting a role, it is possible that some gestures or aspect of your personality might seep into it. I found that the life journey of my character Vijay Singh is quite similar to my own life.
In what sense?
You want to do something good in your life. But all of a sudden a bad phase comes in your life and your close ones get alienated from you. Vijay Singh faces that situation. His main regret is that he wasn’t able to alter the situation. Something similar happened in my
life as well.
What went wrong in your life?
Main khud se naaraz ho gaya tha... I got angry with myself because I was not getting any work. You know there was a time when people came to me with work. Then the times changed. People stopped coming, stopped meeting. I was losing out on so much work and afterwards, I really gave up. I stopped taking care of myself. I started drinking. I was lost somewhere and went adrift. It’s so bad…seeing my children watching their father sitting at home. Then I realised I had to help myself because no one else could. I began looking after myself and kept myself ready for opportunities. I want to forget those days...
Who supported you during those dark days?
My family and my wife Tanya supported me a lot. The best thing to happen to me in my life is my wife. She’s a very simple, strong lady. Only a wife can understand her husband’s difficulties. She knows me very well. She is very talented. She handles her own business. (Laughs) She looks after three children, me being the oldest.
Did the experience bring you closer to your kids?
My kids are happy to see me working. I tell them that life is not easy. But that does not mean that you should constantly be stressed. Enjoy your life. But remain focussed and disciplined. My life is an example for them. I tell them that they should pay attention to their studies. Become something then do whatever you want to do. When they decide on the future course of action,
I will definitely help them.
What was the worst thing about your dark episode?
That once in my life I almost gave up. I’ll always regret that I stopped being positive about my career.
Are your children interested in acting?
I think every child wants to become a hero or a heroine. Both my kids are studying at the moment. My elder son Aryaman is studying business management. I’ve told him to keep his horizons open. Because if you cannot become an actor then what are the other options? You have to keep some realistic things open.
What have you discovered about yourself over the years?
This is an ongoing process. I’m discovering myself even now.
Which quality of Dharamji have you inherited? And which quality you wish you had?
I feel I should become a good person like him. I have not seen a good person like him till today. I feel proud that I am Dharmendra’s son.
What kind of relationship do you share with your children? Do they have the same bonding that you shared with your father?
When we were growing up, papa was working hard. So we didn’t spend much time with him. I used to go with him for outdoor shootings. People thought and acted in a different way then. The relation between father and children wasn’t as smooth then as it’s in today’s generation. I made it a point to avoid that kind of a distance with my own kids. We have a friendly relationship. In earlier times, children respected their parents but didn’t open their hearts to them. My father always complains that I don’t open my heart to him. He often tells me to sit with him, talk to him and I reply that even today I’m afraid you’ll start scolding me.
I wanted to take that fear away from my children and perhaps I’ve been successful in doing so.
Nepotism is a much-reviled topic currently. What are your thoughts on it?
I’m quite troubled as to why this topic should be blown up in such a manner.
I know one thing, if you are a star son, you get the first chance easily. That’s the easy part. After that, you’re on your own. If you aren’t good no one can build your career for you. And nepotism can be seen in every field. The child of a doctor wants to become a doctor, a businessman wants his son to join him in business. Similarly, an actor’s son dreams of becoming an actor. At one point in life, I had no work at all. If only nepotism was at play here, I should never have been out of work.
How are you coping up with the quarantine?
Papa, Sunny Bhaiya, his family, my family and kids -- we stay together. We have a gym at home and I spend many hours in the gym as regular exercise improves your immunity. Corona has given everyone family time. I do miss my friends and have not met them for the last five months. Apart from that, I read scripts and watch movies. I shave every day. I maintain myself and try to be as positive as possible. And whenever I worry about the future, I remind myself that I’ve seen the worst. This too shall pass.
When we were growing up, papa was working hard. So we didn’t spend much time with him. I used to go with him for outdoor shootings. People thought and acted in a different way then. The relation between father and children wasn’t as smooth then as it’s in today’s generation. I made it a point to avoid that kind of a distance with my own kids. We have a friendly relationship. In earlier times, children respected their parents but didn’t open their hearts to them. My father always complains that I don’t open my heart to him. He often tells me to sit with him, talk to him and I reply that even today I’m afraid you’ll start scolding me.
I wanted to take that fear away from my children and perhaps I’ve been successful in doing so.
Nepotism is a much-reviled topic currently. What are your thoughts on it?
I’m quite troubled as to why this topic should be blown up in such a manner.
I know one thing, if you are a star son, you get the first chance easily. That’s the easy part. After that, you’re on your own. If you aren’t good no one can build your career for you. And nepotism can be seen in every field. The child of a doctor wants to become a doctor, a businessman wants his son to join him in business. Similarly, an actor’s son dreams of becoming an actor. At one point in life, I had no work at all. If only nepotism was at play here, I should never have been out of work.
How are you coping up with the quarantine?
Papa, Sunny Bhaiya, his family, my family and kids -- we stay together. We have a gym at home and I spend many hours in the gym as regular exercise improves your immunity. Corona has given everyone family time. I do miss my friends and have not met them for the last five months. Apart from that, I read scripts and watch movies. I shave every day. I maintain myself and try to be as positive as possible. And whenever I worry about the future, I remind myself that I’ve seen the worst. This too shall pass.
What has the lockdown taught you?
Stay focussed. You should never lose your focus. If you are focussed, you will stay disciplined.
I have learnt this from my papa and Sunny Bhaiya.
OTT platforms have become quite popular nowadays...
I think that OTT platforms as well as the theatre, both will survive. Cinema will never die. We can order food sitting at home, but the fun in going out and eating is something else. The same thing applies to films. People will never stop going to the theatres.
Stay focussed. You should never lose your focus. If you are focussed, you will stay disciplined.
I have learnt this from my papa and Sunny Bhaiya.
OTT platforms have become quite popular nowadays...
I think that OTT platforms as well as the theatre, both will survive. Cinema will never die. We can order food sitting at home, but the fun in going out and eating is something else. The same thing applies to films. People will never stop going to the theatres.
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