I want to step out of my comfort zone now – Bobby Deol

Bobby Deol, who’s back in the race and fighting to regain lost ground, even while he admits that work is not easy to come by
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 19, 2019)
He’s one of the coolest actors in B-Town, both in style quotient and temperament. Nothing ruffles him, neither a hit nor a flop. That’s because Bobby Deol is careful not to get arrogant with success or let failure make him bitter. “If success is a high, then failure is the after-effects of that high. And like any downer, it can leave you feeling depressed. So, you need to keep things in control and not let them get to you,” reasons the actor who’s been see-sawing between two extremes through a career spanning almost 25 years.
At the moment, Bobby is trying to regain lost ground after a selfimposed exile from the screen, which he admits was a mistake. He is grateful to Salman Khan, whom he describes as “the greatest human being he has come across”, for getting him back in the race. “Thanks to him, I got Race 3 without which I would not have landed Housefull 4,” he acknowledges, admitting that choices are limited with work opportunities not easy to come by when you have been out of the running. “You need lots of luck, but I don’t want to leave it to just luck. I’m going out of my way to mingle and learn everything there’s to learn. It’s never too late, age is just a number. You’re as old as you are in your mind.”
He’s made 50 the new 20 and is at his fittest today. Bobby admits that after letting himself go, he is now focussed on staying healthy. Well, he couldn’t have got much sleep this week, with Akshay Kumar pushing up the call time of The Kapil Sharma Show to 6 am, then taking his Housefull 4 coactors on a train-ride to the capital as part of the film’s promotions. “Akshay bhaiya even got Kapil to the set early,”he laughs. “He’s a great guy and it was fun being on his show. The train journey brought back fond childhood memories. When we were in school and college, every year, during summer and winter vacations, we’d travel with the extended family to Punjab. It reunited the gang and gave us quality time together.”
While Akshay and Riteish Deshmukh have been a part of this franchise through four parts, Bobby is a new entrant. So, how was the Housefull experience for him in the context of producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s observation that every actor in the cast needs to shed their inhibitions and perform shamelessly, because without that conviction they’d stand out like a sore thumb in this crazy comedy. “Akshay and Ritiesh are the USP of this franchise. They’re amazing actors, with great comic timing and chemistry. For me, it was an opportunity to understand that kind of cinema. Fortunately, my character is not too over the top, but I’ve learnt a lot from them. I want to step out of my comfort zone now, do all kinds of roles, even on the digital platform because that’s where people turn to at the end of a long day to unwind. The younger audience does not have a set image of me, so I can get a little more experimental,” he avers.
Given that Diwali is a great release week, he must be hoping Part 4 replicates the success of the previous three films and gives him a much-needed box office boost? “I’m hoping people will enjoy this more than the other three. Akshay is a superstar, people love his movies, and through him, I hope they get to see me too,” he smiles.
And will we get to see the three Deols—Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby—in at least one more film even if it’s not Yamla Pagla Deewana 4? “Definitely,” he assures. “We were all disappointed, particularly, that YPD3 did not fare better. Next time, we will focus more on the subject so those who love us don’t feel let down,” he promises.
They must also be disappointed that Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas which heralded the entry of the third generation of Deols, Sunny’s son Karan, did not live up to expectations. Where did they go wrong, given that Sunny had directed it? “Every father will do his best for his child, so I have no answer to that. My nephew has talent and promise. He’ll definitely will make a name, he just needs to get the right project,” Bobby reasons.
Is his older son, Aryaman, gearing up for his Bollywood debut? He points out that it’s every father’s dream for his children to follow in his footsteps, and while it will make him happy too, he will never impose his views on his sons. “My father didn’t, the decision was my own, and I want my boys to think for themselves too. I will be equally happy if they want to do business,” he asserts, pointing out that today with more competition, it’s as difficult for a star kid as it is for someone with no film background.
He doesn’t believe in advice, but speaks to both Aryaman and Dharam about what is important, corrects them if necessary and tries to inculcate in them the values he grew up with. “We were taught to be honest and a good human being. That can be conflicting because human beings by nature are not honest. So, you try to be a good human being because then you’re more honest,” he smiles, adding that with his sons, he’s the good cop while wife Tania is the bad cop. “The mother is usually the disciplinarian, who ensures the children don’t go out of control. She’s also the one they love and connect with most.”
For Bobby, Tania is his lifeline. “While your father, mother, siblings always stand by you, it’s your better half who goes through ups and downs with you. My wife has been my biggest strength and most honest critic. Tania has given me the determination to fight back. Today, every step I take, I see it as a way forward,” he signs off with a smile.