Sunny Deol has been fine-tuning scripts during the lockdown, promises to surprise himself and his audience
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 29, 2020)

While many are losing their cool after being cooped up at home for close to 100 days, Sunny Deol has taken the lockdown in his stride. “Initially, one had thought it would be just for a few days, but ab toh aadat si ho gayi hai. As an actor, one travelled a lot and was away from home for three-four months at a stretch. So, getting to spend time with the family is a welcome change,” he asserts. The actor-filmmaker admits that given a choice, he’d rather be at the family farm in Khandala with father Dharmendra, where one is in the midst of nature and can move around at will.

“In the city, you’re confined to your home. There are times when I wish I was a nobody, so I could get around more. But I’ve reconnected with some old buddies through a chat group and happily spend a couple of hours on it,” he shares, revelling in a newfound sense of contentment and an awareness of all those things that kept one busy without reason and made one spend unnecessarily to keep up with the Joneses. “That’s the beautiful part of this lockdown and it’s imperative that we don’t forget these lessons once the Coronavirus pandemic is behind us.”

Prod him on his favourite corner in the house and Sunny reveals with a chuckle that with brother Bobby, his sons and nephews at home, the gym is the most used room. “It’s always houseful at the home gym these days. This unexpected break has not only given us time for introspection but also to work out and get physically fit and strong,” he points out, impressing on the need to build one’s immunity.

Professionally, Sunny has been working on a couple of scripts and is hoping to crack them in the next few weeks and roll soon. “This virus is not going away anytime soon. So, till a vaccine arrives, we have to learn to live with it. Despite the deep-rooted fear, we have to get our lives back on track,” he says, sounding like the one-man army we have seen on screen so many times setting the world right. He’s quick to add that we also have to be hygienic, sensible and learn to work with fewer people on the sets. “All the departments will have to rethink how to work with an effective rather than an excessive crew. If we are being cautious, it’s because we can’t afford for shooting to grind to a halt again and waste more money.”

Sunny’s last projects were son Karan’s launch vehicle, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, a home production with him as the director, and Blank as an actor; both opened last year. Now, he wants to focus only on acting. “I won’t be producing or directing films for a little while; I just want to act, act and act,” he asserts, adding that he will be working with outside set-ups, good directors and scripts that challenge him as an actor. “I want to surprise myself and my audience, evolve as an actor, wear characters I can give life to, and infuse with the colour of my personality,” he says fervently.

If he could turn the clock back, is there something he’d do differently, you wonder. There’s a reflective pause before he confesses that whatever he has done so far was dictated not by what he wanted but where life took him. “Eventually, it’s destiny that determines the course of your journey, so I’d probably do the same things again. Your part in this process is to keep working hard and honestly,” he says simply.

Sunny’s repertoire boasts of films like Sohni Mahiwal, Arjun, Dacait, Ghayal, Damini, Ghatak, Border and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, that any actor would be proud of and makers would want to remake. “I’ve been lucky,” he says modestly. “These films were difficult to back, but I jumped in without any idea of how they’d turn out, because I liked the story and the character. They make me feel good today. Over the next year and two, I will give much more as an actor to my fans, particularly the next generation,” he promises.

And what about Karan? Sunny informs that his son, too, has two films that he has been working on and there will be announcements as soon as lockdown rules are relaxed. “But I’m not making any of them,” he adds.

There was talk of him launching his second son, Rajveer, too. Sunny reasons that, with a new actor, a script takes time to flesh out. “It’s the real hero and only after it’s locked, can one get down to the casting,” he says, admitting that after Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, he has come to realise that the scenario today is very different from when he debuted in Betaab, and that being from a film family can be a drawback rather than an asset. “People perceive success differently now. I wanted to be an actor and unfortunately, my boys want the same. And I’m proud that it’s not for the stardom but because they enjoy the art. Their talent, hard work and destiny will take them ahead.”

Meanwhile, Sunny, a newly elected MP from Gurdaspur, has been quietly helping migrants from across the world and the country reach home safely, arranging food and supplies for the needy in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. But bring up the subject and he says awkwardly, “I don’t like to talk about this. I’m doing what I can. I haven’t been able to travel, but now that flights are becoming safer, I plan to go there soon. Since it’s a rural belt, the welfare of the farmers is my primary concern. I’m also looking out for youngsters, particularly students. I got into politics to make the lives of those who elected me better. I’m happy doing this and they are happy with what I have done and what I can do. There are a lot of dreams, not for myself, but for them. I hope to realise them,” he signs off.

The actor, who celebrates his birthday on Jan 27, will spend the next few weeks with his elder son Aryaman, who is studying business management in New York
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 22, 2020)

After a star-studded 50th bash last year, Bobby Deol is opting for a quieter birthday this year in the Big Apple. His elder son, Aryaman, is studying business management at a university there and the actor who turns a year older on January 27, heads to NYC on Friday to bring in his special day with his son.

In between shooting for a show in Ayodhya, helmed by Prakash Jha, Bobby informs that he didn’t get to spend too much time with Aryaman when he was home last because of his hectic work schedule. “It’s been a couple of months since we met. Since he has no holiday coming up, I’m travelling on my work-break to catch up with him,” says the doting dad.

Aryaman turned 18 on June 17, any plans of him following in the footsteps of his grandfather (Dharmendra), father and uncle Sunny? “Right now, he’s focussed on his studies and completing his education. Today’s generation has its priorities right,” smiles Bobby, adding, “Later, if and when he decides to make a career in the movies, we will support and guide him appropriately.”

Bobby, too, is more focussed on his career even though he has yet to announce a new film. He admits that earlier the approach was more easy-going, but now he wants to do good work, irrespective of the platform. “I’m in talks for a few interesting subjects and things should be finalised soon,” he says, admitting that on a show, the pace of work is more hectic, so, it’s early to bed and early to rise. “But I’m in happy space, 2019 was good with Housefull 4 doing well and hopefully, this year will rock too.”

Last year, his nephew Karan Deol debuted as an actor with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, which Sunny directed. The musical romance didn’t fare. With his brother’s now juggling Parliamentarian duties as an MP from Gurdaspur, what’s the way forward for Karan? “I can’t speak for my brother or my nephew. Karan is a hard-working guy and I’m sure things will work out for him,” Bobby says shortly.

For now, he will be in NY for a couple of weeks and plans to explore the city when Aryaman is busy with his classes. “Though I’ve been to New York before, I haven’t really gone out and about. I’ll do that this time,” he promises.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 19, 2019)

Vardhan Puri will make his debut with Yeh Saali Aashiqui that releases this week. Not only is he playing a character with grey shades in his first film, but he has also penned the story and has been a part of the film’s production journey. Even though he is veteran actor Amrish Puri’s grandson, he’s not had it easy so far. In a conversation with BT, he relives the road travelled and what lies ahead for him:

Despite being in and around the film fraternity, how did you skip the paparazzi radar?
My father is not really a member of the fraternity and doesn’t hang out with the film folks. He has a different line of work and his circle has people from the world of finance. My parents are not even social in that sense; they rarely party. Fraternity parties are where you meet people from the industry, but I seldom went to those. I worked at a film studio and was busy learning the ropes of filmmaking. I still don’t have an industry friend though I know people. My buddies are the ones who’ve been with me since my school days. The reason the paps never spotted me was that I was never at the parties. I was behind the cameras on a job. It’s important to find your film; the paps will automatically find you. No sensible casting director in the business casts you because he bumped into you at a bash. He or she will chase you if you’ve knocked it out of the park at an audition. Theatre teaches you to be focussed on the prep and rehearsals, so when the time comes, you don’t have to think too much. I worked on that without compromising on my focus.

With a lineage of strong character actors like your grandfather Amrish Puri and his brother Madan Puri, the industry and the audience expects a lot from your debut film. Do you feel that the pressure you face is different from that of a star kid, like Sunny Deol’s son Karan for instance?
I think it’s a responsibility which I take very seriously. People love them both, especially daadu (Amrish Puri). I want people to love me, too. I can’t be Amrish Puri, I don’t want to be him and I can never be him. We look and sound different. However, our core values, drawn from theatre, are the same. So, our understanding of cinema is quite similar. Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra had once told me that if I ever decide to be an actor, I should refrain from aping my grandfather. He had also told me that the reason my grandfather became successful is that there was no one like him. Gaanth baandh li maine unki iss baat ki. A superstar is someone who lives in the minds of cinegoers forever. Amrish Puri is an eternal superstar who is in people’s minds even now. Sunny sir is a brilliant actor, and I am sure Karan will live up to his family’s name. Our job as actors is to deliver great performances. I will upset my grandfather if I don’t do that. I’m following his principles. He believed in the work he did, which is the reason you will never find his performance below par even if the film was not all that great. Daadu’s taken my family’s name to a certain level and I have to work thrice as hard to keep it up.

You have co-written your debut film and played a big role in getting the project off the ground…
I’ve been a theatre actor since I was five years old. I was trained by theatre veteran Satyadev Dubey, who was also my grandpa’s coach. After graduation, I started working with a studio where I assisted on Ishaqzaade (2012), Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Daawat E Ishq (2014). That’s where I decided to learn film acting because it’s different from theatre. I had picked up things while assisting filmmakers and I also learnt it formally, and then, I started auditioning. There were two films that I could have made a debut with, but they didn’t take off. I was upset and emotional with what had happened. Around that time, I met Dr Jayantilal Gada while I was auditioning and he was keen to launch me. I had an idea that I decided to develop with my friend Cherag Ruparel (director of the film). The reason we decided to write and pitch on our own is that no one wants to give you a chance. As an actor, people saw my auditions and were willing to cast me, but they didn’t want to hear my stories. A writer is the most important member of a team; it’s that content that takes the shape of a film. Also, once, Yash ji had told me that if I ever make my acting debut, it should be somewhat like Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Darr (1993). I pitched my idea to my father. He liked what Cherag and I had put together. We met Jayanti uncle soon after and things got going. It may all sound very easy today, but it was a long ride and wasn’t planned. It was destined to play out this way.

Wasn’t production, writing and acting a lot to handle for a newcomer?
This film is my baby. I did a lot of work on this project, not by choice but by chance and majboori. I needed to find something exciting and good to work on when my first two outings didn’t take off. My father is a businessman and he wouldn’t have made a decision purely on the basis of emotions. Making this film was like going to a film school three times over. Handling a 200-member team is tougher than handling babies.

While children from film families do have an advantage when it comes to getting a break, do you think that the story of your struggle might change the perception of those who think the industry is too nepotistic in its approach?
I don’t know about that, but I just feel that this struggle was a real blessing. I wouldn’t have learnt anything if all of this had fallen into my lap. I would not have appreciated things so much. When I was turned away from offices, rejected at auditions I remembered Satyadev Dubey, who had told me that rejections and humiliation teach you the most. There’s no actor who hasn’t faced rejection. I would give three auditions in a day. People were fed up of seeing my face at the auditions every day, but I was persistent. I remember that on one particular day when I didn’t turn up for an audition, one of the casting guys called to check on me. It was funny.

Talking about your debut, it has a strong romantic angle and it taps the grey side of romance. Was it one of your own experiences that pushed you to write this?
Yes, in some way, it does stem from one of my relationship experiences. There was something crazy that I went through, and funnily enough, even Cherag went through something similar. We started questioning the very emotion. Gradually, I realised that one should never give anyone the power to influence emotions so much. Sometimes, we have these forbidden experiences where we fall for people we should not be with. The idea behind this film is to drive home the point that it’s a double-faced world, and one should be careful while choosing a companion.

Do you still believe in love?
Of course, I’m old-school when it comes to that. Main romantic aadmi hoon. If I love someone today, I will think of a life that we can make together; I’d like to marry her. I’m not the one-night-stand kind or a hook-up type of a guy. I have been in love before, but right now, I’m single and gladly so. If I was dating someone, I would not have had the time for her, which would’ve been unfair. I will be happy to tell the world about the woman I’m with. My father and grandfather should get the credit for this. Despite being a busy actor, there’s not one scandal about my grandfather. He loved being with his family when he was not at work. My parents have been together since they were in their late teens. They’re best friends.

Lastly, while you play a cross between a hero and an anti-hero, your grandfather often played characters which were pivotal to the story. Do we see you going that route, too?
I would be lying if I say that I don’t want to lead the cast in my films, but every actor wants to play a great character today, because everything is driven by that. Sometimes ensemble cast films have a lot to offer to actors. So, if a film with a great character ticks certain boxes for me, I’ll be game for it.