Bobby Deol is as raw, honest and real as it gets. His reinvention as Lord Bobby is what stories are made of, but he carries his renewed stardom with quiet grace. The actor who marks 30 years in the industry this year, has reignited the audience’s interest with bold, dark roles – totally redefining the heartthrob Bobby of Barsaat and Bichhoo days. In the latest episode of Philips LatteGo presents Bombay Times Lounge powered by instax FUJIFILM, Bobby bares his heart and talks about stardom, family bonds, lasting friendships and his remarkable resurgence. Watch the full episode that just dropped on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

The problem in the world is that people who are bad don’t think they’re bad, because if they knew that, they wouldn’t be bad. So, whenever I play negative characters, I don’t think I’m bad, because if you think that way, then your performance becomes unreal. You have to be the character. You have your own backstory about why you are reacting or feeling this way. If you really look at Animal, my past is sadder than Ranbir’s character. So, I thought about myself as a guy who wanted to protect his family, and for that, he would give his life or take others’ lives.

As an actor, OTT platforms gave me the opportunity to play characters I was seeking, which were outside my comfort zone and away from my image. I am very proud of Class Of '83, which many might not have seen because it released a week after Aashram. For me, the only thing that mattered was to be accepted as an actor, not a star.

I don’t think of myself as a star. I never do. I’m just a normal person who’s trying to do his job, and luckily, it’s a creative job. To be an actor, to be on a set and create different characters - that is what I really enjoy doing.

I got a phone call from their team saying, ‘We’re producing this web series and Aryan Khan is directing it, would you be interested?’ I just said, ‘I’m doing it’. Because I’m a father myself, I have kids (Aryaman and Dharam) who want to be actors, and I know how difficult it is and how much pressure there is. Whatever people say about the industry, we are very close-knit in many ways. We have a great bond, and we care about each other. I sat with Aryan for seven hours for the narration, and the conviction with which he narrated the whole story to me – I was just taken in by it. He was like this child. I call him a child because he’s like a child to me.

The funniest thing is, I never thought about all these things when I was starting out. I really didn’t. In fact, not for a very long time in my career. Later on, when people would say, ‘You were always under the shadow of your dad and your brother,’ and I would think, was I? I never felt it. I never looked at my career like that.

Yes, I have, and it has really helped me. Everyone is genetically different, and no one realizes how any kind of intoxication can affect you. And some people have those genes where you get addicted to things. I just decided that God has given me a second chance, and I really, really want to do my best. You don’t get these kinds of chances in life. The voice has to come from within. I think I’m a better person after I stopped drinking, and I think my relationship has become a hundred times better with everyone I know.

Talking about being directed by Aryan Khan for The Ba**ads Of Bollywood, he says, “Aryan is so mature in his thinking. He’s a real taskmaster and a perfectionist. It was like my own son telling me, ‘I want this, I want you to do it this way.’ If The Ba**ads Of Bollywood is what it is, it’s because of Aryan. He’s proved it to the world. With the pressure he was under… being a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan’s son, to have the guts to step out and have his own voice as a director – hats off to him. I feel so proud of him!”

"Life can never be easy, no matter how talented you are. There are so many cases of people being talented, but not getting work. And there have been cases of so many people who are not talented, but are getting work. But that shouldn’t make you want to make excuses or give up on yourself."

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Actor Sunny Deol’s son, actor Karan Deol, is back in the spotlight due to his wedding news. In the days when star kids are plastered over magazine covers, and are faces of high-end brands without even making their debuts, the Deols have ensured that their lads keep it low-key.

Actor Bobby Deol wants his sons, Aryaman (21) and Dharam (17), to lead a “normal life”. He says, “They are not special. Though they are my kids, I don’t want them to get carried away by glamour, because it can take you away from things. That is why we (Deols) are like that. I was brought up that way.”

Sharing what his sons wish to pursue professionally, Bobby confirms that they want to get into acting. “Both my sons will become actors. They are studying… My son (Aryaman) is graduating from New York University. I’m very proud of him,” he adds.

In the meantime, Bobby, 54, is “trying to challenge” himself as an actor. From doing bold scenes in OTT projects to debuting down south — the actor doesn’t “fear anything anymore”. He is quite excited about his next, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal. “I am a big fan of Ranbir (Kapoor; co-star). He is an awesome actor. Working with him was fun,” he adds.

Despite such enticing projects, Bobby is not satisfied: “You never get the platter that you are looking for.” He adds that he now wishes to do “an emotional family drama”.

Bobby Deol, who just turned 54, is thoroughly enjoying his 50s. “Things have been looking better than before since I entered my 50s. I have more clarity now. You always understand yourself better [with age], and I have had new experiences as an actor,” shares Deol.

The actor, who made his big-screen debut as a lead in the 1995 blockbuster Barsaat, which was followed by several hits, including Gupt (1997), Soldier (1998), Badal, Bichhoo (both 2000) and Humraaz (2002), credits the new-age platform OTT for helping artistes showcase a broader spectrum.

“The kind of cinema that is made now caters to different age categories; it’s amazing how OTT has given so much scope for actors to showcase their work,” adds the actor, who tasted fame on the web with the series Class Of '83 and Aashram.

“I wish I had learnt faster, but everyone has their own way of understanding things. Things changed a little late in my life, but I don’t regret it. I’m getting good work,” says Deol, who will be seen in Animal alongside actor Ranbir Kapoor and will make his Telugu debut in Hari Hara Veera Mallu soon.

On the personal front, his birthday this year was a homely affair, with his elder son, Aryaman, flying down from the US just to be with him on the day: “There was a havan in the morning, and then I chilled with my boys.”

He has wrapped up shooting for Ashram season 3, and the rest of 2022 looks busy as well, with Animal alongside actor Ranbir Kapoor, Love Hostel and more. But, actor Bobby Deol is worried — his eldest son, Aryaman, 20, who flew down to India for his dad’s birthday, will return to USA soon. The actor, who turned 53 yesterday, tells us, “As a parent, you are obviously worried. No words can express how I felt when he was away from us.”

He goes on to say, “Now, things have changed. My son will be flying back to the US, I am worried. You do worry about your children’s future, but want them to be stronger to face the world. It has become ruthless, you really have to watch your back.”

As for his birthday, the actor shares that it was a low-key affair this time, due to the Coronavirus scenario. Though he couldn’t hang out with friends, Deol says the day is always special. “I look forward to my birthday. We have a big family, so even if I don’t invite guests, there are enough people,” he signs off