Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 25, 2019)

Bobby Deol who turns 50 on Sunday, January 27, is in a happy frame of mind since he believes he’s the youngest of the Deol brood. “I feel I’m five, who says I will soon be 50? Mentally, I am still a child and I don’t want to change that,” he laughs, asserting that there is more fire in him today than there was a decade ago. “I have the energy to go on for many more years and keep getting better at work,” promises the actor who returned to the mainstream after a five-year hibernation with Race 3 last year.

Talking about his birthday plans, the actor reveals that it will be a private celebration with family and close friends. “My mother will organise a havan, that’s customary on all our birthdays,” he informs, adding that a family reunion is on the cards. “My sisters, Ajeeta and Vijayta, are flying down from Delhi and the US respectively. That apart, the entire family will be home. It’s great to spend time with all those who have made difference in my life. The Deols are anyway very family oriented and love bringing in all occasions together,” he smiles.

The actor has credited Salman Khan for bringing him back into the race. Quiz him on the subject and he says emotionally, “Salman is like an older brother, the most amazing human I have met in the industry who cares for everyone around him. He doesn’t need to do anything for anyone but still goes out of his way to help others, just like my brother (Sunny Deol) and father (Dharmendra).” Will Salman be a part of his birthday bash? “If he is free, he will definitely drop in,” Bobby nods.

On hitting the half century, is there anything that Bobby wishes more from life? “I want to do everything that I can for my family and since I have just started my career again, I want to sign some good films. I want to be like my father who is working in films even at the age of 84,” he says.

Bobby returns to the screen in Diwali with the fourth installment of Housefull franchise spearheaded by Akshay Kumar. “It’s a big franchise and people are expecting a lot from it. Akshay has always chosen the right subjects and Sajid Nadiadwala backs the right product so I hope everything falls in place. This is my only release this year, so it’s an important film for me. I want all my films to be blockbusters, but their fate depends on the audience’s reaction,” he acknowledges. Having worked in Apne and the Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise, Bobby states that he would also love to do many more films with his family.

When asked if he recalls celebrating his father or brother’s 50th birthday, he quips, “They are a little old fashioned and don’t like celebrating birthdays.”