‘I Am Happy About The New Phase In My Life’

Bobby Deol made a grand entry into Bollywood with Barsaat way back in 1995 and followed it up with major hits like Gupt (1997) and Soldier (1998). The youngest son of Dharmendra, however, failed to hold onto his early successes and had to sit at home without any work for three years in the new millennium. The 51-year-old, who makes his digital debut with Class of ’83, a Shah Rukh Khan-Netflix production on August 21, speaks to Giridhar Jha about his latest film, his 25 years in movies and how he handled his failure. Excerpts:

Your character of a police training academy dean in Class of ’83 looks different from anything you have done so far. Tell us about it?

I always looked for such an interesting character but I did not get to play any because of my image. I waited for long for an opportunity to show whatever talent I have. Fortunately, Shah Rukh Khan’s production house (Red Chillies) and Netflix came to me with this project. When I heard the script, I knew I had finally landed a role that I had been looking for. I have worked very hard on this character. I play a police officer who ignores his family life in the course of his professional duties for the larger good of society. It is not a larger-than-life character and a common man can easily relate to it.

You are known for playing glamorous and flamboyant roles. Did you have to put in extra effort to pull off this character?

I have spent 25 years in the industry. I was waiting for an opportunity to portray this side of me. You can prove your mettle only when you get an opportunity to do so. When I got a chance, I put my heart and soul into it. I thought I might not get another chance.

You belong to the class of ‘95 in Bollywood. You are now making your digital debut in the silver jubilee year of your career. What is the difference between then and now?

There is no difference as such. As an actor, you try to pick a subject which you have not done previously regardless of the medium. On the digital platform, I feel, creative people have a lot of freedom to create interesting stuff.  It is not just commercial. It is more about entertaining and telling stories which otherwise do not get to see the day of light. With the advent of OTT platforms such as Netflix, you can make such stories in a more interesting way. As for me, I did not think whether this film would be shown on the big screen on television. An actor just wants to get work which gives him satisfaction.

How has been your journey in the past 25 years? Any­thing you think you should have done differently?

Every actor who looks back thinks he should have done things differently, worked harder and remained more focussed. I also think that things could have been different had I been more focussed and disciplined. I do not mean that it would have taken me to the dizzying heights of stardom but my work could have been better.  And it is not about being stars. It is about the challenges you face while doing a character. I am happy about the new phase in my life. I had given up when I did not have work for three years but I have woken up. Now, I understand that you have to keep working harder with a never-say-never attitude. In those days, my fans would ask me, “When would we see you again on screen?” and I would tell them “very soon”. How could I have told them that I had no work?

How did you cope with failure after tasting huge success in that period?

No matter how big a family you belong to, when you face a crisis, you tend to find some support to hide your pain. I found that support in alcohol and did not look after myself. I think everybody becomes a Devdas in such situations.

So what motivated you to bounce back?

My biggest motivation was my family. In that period, I would see their concern for me in their eyes. They would try to reassure me that things would be alright. My sons would see me sitting idle at home and ask their mother why I was not  going out for work? I thought I would not be a role-model for my sons if I continued like that. So I just snapped out of it, and resolved to take care of myself and work harder in my life. That is how it all happened.

You have been a star son of Dharmendra and a star brother of Sunny Deol, both big actors? Did it ever put you under undue pressure?

I never felt like that. Of course, in today’s times, the younger generation is made to feel as if it is a burden. Every individual is different. When my career was down in the dumps, I realised that some people also thought of me in the same vein. But I am proud of the fact that my father and my brother are big stars. I was also a big star. Stardom cannot give you everything. So one should not attach too much importance to it. The best reward that an actor can get is that he has to go to work every day when he gets up in the morning. I have seen that with my father and also my brother. Life has its ups and downs but they did not ever give up.

Looking back, how do you analyse your failure? Was it sheer bad luck or any other factor like bad selection of scripts?

You take some steps in your career without having an idea if they are good or bad. I still cannot fathom whether I made any wrong decision. Maybe I lost my focus, maybe I took things for granted. Whatever the reasons, I did let go of a good opportunity. When I was jobless, I used to pity myself but I have stopped thinking like that. Whatever happened is my past. Now, I am concentrating on my fresh beginning.  I want to stay focussed and disciplined. Discipline is the most important thing in an actor’s career.

Your father has often been quoted as saying that the Deols are too simple and emotional people to conform to the manipulative ways of the industry. You have not been part of any industry lobby. Did it harm your prospects in any way?

Filmmakers used to come to me and sign me when I started my career. Things changed the other way round later with actors going out to seek work from them. I had never learnt that. I guess we are too simple a family to believe in any kind of manipulation. Nonetheless, I will not say it is the only reason but we have never been that way. We want everybody to get work and be happy. There is a room for everybody.

Both your sons—Aryaman and Dharam—are expected to join the film industry sooner or later? What advice would you like to give them as a father?

Every father wants his son to follow his profession. But my experience tells me that an actor should not depend solely on acting. He should also have a business sense alongside. As a father, I would like my sons to complete their education first and if they want to join the industry later, I will always support them.

Your father, a legendary actor, has spent more than 60 years in the industry. What career lessons have you learnt from him?

When we are together at home, he is just my papa. We do not see what kind of problems he might have faced in his career. It is only when we face difficulties that we realise what he must have gone through. Now, I wish I had known about it earlier. I tell my children that life is not easy and they have to prepare themselves to face the challenges ahead.

Is the advent of big OTT players such as Netflix going to make a big difference especially for actors like you?

It will benefit the actors a lot because there is no business like show business. In almost every household in a big or small city, you will find a wannabe actor. But everybody cannot get work. The advent of OTT platforms has thrown open immense opportunities for everyone. OTT and theatres will co-exist. Cinema is the foundation on  which OTT has been created. Had cinema not been there, there would not have been  any OTT. Both are interdependent. It is like the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has given so many opportunities to the young talent to play for India.

Do you have any unfulfilled wishes in the industry? What about directing a film?

Right now, I am just trying my best to do good work. I believe that once I will be known as an actor for my work and God gives me strength, I would like to direct. But I do not have either knowledge or the mindset for that. I know it might never happen.

Do you also intend to join politics in the future, following in the footsteps of your dad and brother?

My father and my brother joined politics which they had never ever thought of doing. I also do not know what will happen in the future. As of now, I have never given it a thought.