Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; September 18, 2019)

It is difficult to gauge who is more under pressure. The young star kid, who is all set to take his family legacy forward, or the doting father, who is directing his son in his debut film. But what’s certain is that both Sunny Deol and his son Karan have put their best foot forward with an honest film. Here’s how the Deol-duo feel about their first joint labour of love, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (PPDKP).

Karan, you have a legacy to live up to — you are the grandson of Dharmendra and Sunny Deol’s son. Now that your acting debut, PPDKP, is all set to hit the screens, are you nervous or excited?
There is nervousness and anxiety. Honestly, amid so many things happening around the film, nothing has really sunk in yet. I couldn’t even celebrate the launch of the first song and the movie’s first trailer.

Sunny, are you anxious about Karan’s big day that’s coming up this week?
As a father, I have been nervous for over a period of time. I want everything to fall into place. Now, I understand what my father must have gone through (during my debut Betaab in 1983). You understand the magnitude of a situation only when you are in it. I am also excited at the same time. We have worked really hard on this film. Everyone does it, but it took us extra time because of the unpredictable and extreme weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh, where we shot the film. Besides, it’s a task to find a good release date.

Karan, with your father behind the camera, did you, at any point, feel awkward to perform, especially the romantic scenes?
I got so used to the process of having him behind the camera that it didn’t feel awkward. We had become professionals. I would just switch off, get into that zone and perform without thinking about anything else.

Sunny, what made you think that a romantic film was the best script to launch your son, given that Bollywood is experimenting a lot with storytelling and genres these days?
It’s my belief that this is the age when you are tender and vulnerable, and this lasts only for a few years. Hence, I zeroed in on this subject. It’s not that kind of a romantic film ki bas gaana gaaye. It’s a beautiful story with layers. People don’t call Gadar — Ek Prem Katha (2001) a romantic film, but for me, it is. Hum log bas naam de dete hain. PPDKP is about the meeting of two souls who have their own personalities. This is the right time to make this film because they know only so much about life at the moment. It would have been a misfit If I had made this film two or three years later with them (Karan and Sahher Bambba). They have many years ahead of them to explore other genres.

Karan, did dad ever lose his cool on the set?
Dad would be stern, but he never lost his cool. He is a taskmaster on the set. It would get difficult, but he was doing it for my own good. He always pushed me to give my best and grow as an actor. Since I am extremely self-critical, there were times when I wondered if I was cut out for it (acting). But looking back, I feel that he got the best out of me and knew what he was doing.

Sunny, how different is your equation with Karan from what it has been with your father, Dharmendra? Are you more like a friend to your son?
Sunny: When I was growing up, my father was shooting round the clock. I would hardly get to see him. We were a joint family and my father was someone we were scared of. We did so much mischief that we were perpetually scared of our mom telling him about it. I only fear my dad in this world, but there is love and respect, too. I care two hoots about anything else, but if my dad says something, I will always do it. That’s the equation I have with him and I am proud of it. With my son, I try not to repeat what we missed out on while we were growing up. Obviously, the fear factor is still there, but I prefer talking about things and not insisting that they should be done in a certain way. Even I couldn’t be around all the time due to my work schedules. Moreover, I think boys are closer to their mothers and girls are closer to their fathers. These couple of years that we worked together have brought us closer and we understand each other better. During the process of making this film, we tackled hardships together.
Karan: I am closer to my mother. Dad, as he said, was working and was there whenever he could make time. When you grow up with your mom around all the time, you develop a stronger bond with her and confide in her. I think I have become more open with dad after working together. I feel respect, fear and love for him.

Earlier, actors were very straight-jacketed, in the sense that the audience wanted to see Sunny Deol only in his action avatar. Today, with the kind of stories being told, an actor isn’t restricted as much. What do you think about this aspect of your profession which has changed with time, for the better?
Sunny: It is a great time to be in the movies, but I am still waiting for somebody to come along with something that’s interesting. As of now, the feeling is that people want to see me only do something specific. In certain films, like Damini (1993), I was roped in to play a guest role. Nobody, including me, knew how it would turn out. It went on to break boundaries. No one must have envisioned me in that space before that film happened. When I entered the industry, I didn’t want to do Manmohan Desai kind of films, I wasn’t a part of them. I did Arjun (1985) and Yateem (1988) because that kind of cinema resonated with me. I collaborated with new talent to make the kind of cinema I related to. However, after a certain point, I did not get anything different that would prompt me to venture into a new space; that’s been a shortcoming. Luckily, people still remember my work, some of it has become iconic, which I never thought would be the case.

As opposed to earlier times, there is lesser curiosity around the launch of a star kid now, due to excessive social media exposure. Also, do you think that oldschool die-hard loyalty towards filmi families is dipping?
Sunny: I don’t think it’s about loyalty. The younger generation is not aware of how big the actors of the previous generation were. Had I launched Rocky (Karan’s nick name) just after Gadar — if he was of that age — it would have been a different scenario. The change is good in a way. You won’t get preference just because you are a star son. It’s good in a way. Give me one example where a film has become a hit just because it features star son. A film has worked because of the content. Many of them became ‘somebody’ after a few films. In reality, it is a huge burden to be a star kid, because people judge you even before your film has released. Karan, did you also grow up watching your father’s films? Did you ever accompany him to his set?
Karan: Oh, yes. We would watch the premiere of his films. I did accompany him to the sets of his films, but I was too young to recollect the experience.
Sunny: I remember this one time when I was shooting a song with Juhi Chawla at Kamalistan. She had to hug me in one of the scenes. Karan was in the car and he started crying. He won’t remember it because he was too young. For him, it was more about…What is my dad doing? (laughs!). He was extremely upset about it.

Sunny, will we see you directing more? Would you like to explore other genres as an actor and director as well?
Yes, definitely. Right now, I will take a pause after three years of working on this film right from scripting to shooting. I can explore any subject. As a human being, you feel every emotion. I, too, experience all of them. It’s just that I have controlled some and not let them out (laughs!). You release them when you get a character to play those emotions. I don’t smoke or drink, but then I did Damini. I don’t know Sanskrit, but I did Mohalla Assi (2018). I didn’t attend any workshops, I just dived into the character. I enjoy the process as it lets another side of Sunny come out. But somehow people like the one that is angry (laughs!).

Karan, don’t you think that the Deol fans would want to see you attempt an action film, just as an ode to your father...
People have liked the bit of my action avatar in the trailer of the film. It’s natural of them to expect that from me and I can’t run away from it. Out of love, they want to see me in that avatar.

Shalabh Anand Bajpai (DNA; September 14, 2019)

While most star kids are looked up to in awe for their famed lineage, for Karan Deol it was a different story. Being Sunny Deol’s son often became a source of embarrassment for him! He recalls, “I still remember that sports meet in my school that I was part of. Three boys from a higher class came and lifted me in the air and said, ‘Agar Sunny Deol ka beta hai to apne aap ko bacha ke dikha.’ I was so embarrassed!” The teachers were not far behind in doing something similar. “The only support I had was my mother. So, at the time, it was tough to be a Deol,” says Karan. As he is being launched in Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas with the heavy-duty tag, Karan aka Rocky talks about being directed by his father, nepotism, upcoming projects and current relationship status.

Your father has directed you in your debut film. Was there any pressure working under his direction?
Actually, it was not a pressure. This is my first film and I have to prove myself to the world. I had to work hard for it and he (Sunny) just pushed me to the verge of a breaking point. There were times when I would break down and cry but I still shot the same sequence the way he wanted. He was preparing me for the world I am entering because if I don’t perform well, the industry won’t recognise me.

Your granddad Dharamendra and father are both known for action movies. What made you start your career with a love story?
My father and bade papa had a discussion at home before, ‘hum log kaisi story karein, love story, thriller ya action?’ I left everything to them as they have spent more time in the industry. I had complete faith and trust in their judgment. My dad and Bobby (Deol) chachu’s first movies Betaab and Barsaat respectively, were also love stories. It was the same with Abhay (Deol) chachu too. Also, my dad thought launching me in a romantic outing would be easier to connect with the audience.

Of late, there has been a lot of talk about nepotism in the industry. Do you think you will be the latest target?
It’s obvious. I got the launchpad because of my father. I can’t run away from that fact or lie about it. That doesn’t mean I have not put in work or effort in this film. Before this film started, I started working on it. I was well-prepared for every scene because I don’t want people to target me. Nepotism doesn’t bother me because I’m giving 100 per cent for the film I am working in.

Have your grandfather and dad given you any advice to survive in the industry?
My bade papa only told me to just try to love everyone and be humble to them. Dad asked me to give my 100 per cent, told me that I will have to face criticism but have to take it positively.

Do you have friends in Bollywood?
I don’t have a single star kid as a friend. Now, as my film is ready for release, I will try to make some. But there are things that I have to keep in mind before making friends in the industry because we have too many ‘yes men’. If I am wrong, they won’t tell me to my face. They will only drag you down and not let you grow in future. I only have my family and a few close friends from school.

Going forward, what kind of films do you want to do?
Right now, I’m in talks with Indra Kumar for a movie and it’s is almost final. This film will be different from the one I am doing right now. It will be a rom-com. But in future, I want to do action-based films.

Any actors you look forward to working with?
Vicky Kaushal is one of the actors I want to work with because with every film he is experimenting. One actor should not be recognised by his genre and he is one of those.

Newcomers are often linked with each other... What about your co-star Sahher Bambba?
No, there’s nothing between us at all. The chemistry that people saw in the trailer is only for the film not beyond that. But yes, I am in a relationship that’s complicated right now.

The actor, who makes his Bollywood debut with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas,reveals how rapping helped him express his innermost feelings and deal with the bullying he faced in school
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; September 14, 2019)

Over the years, many Bollywood actors have turned rappers, including Abhishek Bachchan and Ranveer Singh. However, not many know that Karan Deol, who will make his acting debut in Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (PPDKP), directed by his dad Sunny Deol, has been rapping for years now. He had delivered a rap number for Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (YPD2), and will be heard rapping in PPDKP as well. Interestingly, Karan, who is quite shy by nature, took to rap as a medium to express his angst and inner conflicts as a teenager. He tells BT, “In school, other students saw me as an actor’s son, they made me feel that I was too privileged. The fact that I was a quiet kid didn’t help either; people mistook it for arrogance and maintained a distance from me. So, I didn’t have any friends for the longest time. It was only in the eighth standard that I finally made friends.”

Karan faced a lot of bullying because of his ‘star son’ status. Recalling an incident, he says, “Once, a fellow student locked me in a hold, and asked me to break out of it.” Karan adds, “When I failed to do so, he said that I couldn’t be Sunny Deol’s son, as I wasn’t able to break free. I would share these incidents with my mom, but not dad; he got to know about it much later. I kept a lot of things to myself and started rapping to express my inner conflicts. It was easier for me to put it down on paper. I would write about love, life, people, misunderstandings, emotions and what my state of mind was.”

Papa Sunny got a first-hand experience of his son’s talent on his birthday, a few years ago. Karan shares, “I write mostly in English. In fact, I wrote a rap for dad on his birthday a few years ago. He became emotional and was surprised.”

While Karan had co-written the rap in YPD 2, this time around, he has just rapped the lines written by Siddharth-Garima for his rap number in PPDKP.

Aware of the pressures of being a star kid, Karan Deol on waiting for Dharmendra's stamp of approval for debut film
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 8, 2019)

"I'm finally part of the fraternity," says Karan Deol—the third generation of the Deol family—as he sits down for a conversation with mid-day. Under the supervision of his father, Sunny Deol, Karan says it was like film school for him. He talks about hailing from a lineage of actors, soaring expectations and learning acting from scratch.

Edited Excerpts From The Interview.

There's barely a week left for your debut film. Has the nervousness settled in?
It's a mixture of both [nervousness and excitement]. I got teary-eyed when I saw the trailer of my film. I am finally a part of the fraternity and that's an emotional moment. The mounting expectations are scary. The fall is obviously going to hurt more, but I don't want to concentrate on that. [This film] is a responsibility and we've worked hard on it. I hope people give me a fair chance, see me as an individual and not compare me to anyone. I haven't tried to mimic anyone.

Was it a conscious decision not to use your nick name, Rocky, as your screen name?
Dad wanted Rocky to be my onscreen name, but I insisted on being recognized by my first name. Also, I associate Rocky with my family, so it would be weird if random people started addressing me as Rocky.

Most star kids follow in their parents' footsteps. Did you always aspire to be an actor?
At 18, I was clear that I want to be an actor. While dad is understanding and loving, I feared him, not only because he is strict, but out of respect. I confided in my mother, who acted as a mediator between dad and me. I remember telling him about my aspirations and he said, "Are you sure? It is emotionally and mentally challenging. During your good moments people will be with you and abandon you as quickly when in trouble. But come what may, you can't succumb to the pressure."

Are you professionally trained as an actor?
I attended several workshops and learnt acting under director Rahul Rawail's guidance. I had to let go of my inhibitions. I did a six-month filmmaking course in London. I also assisted [Sangeeth Sivan, director] on Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, which was an enriching experience. The scripting of Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas started after dad was done with Ghayal Returns. To prep for my character who hails from the hills, I moved base to Himachal Pradesh for four months. I trained in valley crossing, rappelling and other mountaineering techniques. I camped in the wilderness, interacted with locals and grasped the area. It wasn't easy to get under the skin of my character.

Was it easy for you to keep the father-son relationship aside while filming?
For 27 years I have only been his son, so it was difficult to switch that off. Once dad donned the hat of the director, he became a hard taskmaster. It took me a while to adjust to it, but in the hindsight it helped me grow as an actor. There were days when I would break down because he wouldn't let go until he was satisfied with the shot. Dad doesn't believe in complimenting you either. The take is 'okay' or 'decent', it was never 'good'. He constantly pushed me to do better.

Growing up, was watching Sunny's films a part of your routine?
Yes, it was. We wouldn't see him often, so watching him on the screen was a way to emotionally connect with him. On rare occasions, Mom and I would travel to his shoots. When his character was punched by villains, I'd start crying. At the same time, seeing him do action was scary. I
feared that dad was an angry person [laughs].

What was it like among peers who knew your lineage?
No one told me to recite my father's dialogues. In fact, as they were aware that I was a quiet kid, they would often intimidate me by pushing me around to check if I would ever behave like his onscreen characters. But I didn't let it affect me.

Your grandfather and father have seen the highs and lows of the film industry, has it prepared you the feedback you may receive?
It prepared me to maintain a balanced view. There was a phase in my father's career where he had a back injury, which affected the workflow. In this industry, out of sight is out of mind. I have seen him at his most vulnerable state, but he is a fighter and emerged out from it. Even in the toughest times, he had a smile on his face.

Are you aware that being a star kid is like a double-edged sword?
Yes, there are people who are eager to pull me down and nitpick on my performance. I am aware that this opportunity has come my way because of my father. However, I have also put in a lot of hard work and dedication. Even with all the criticism, if my work speaks out, I don't think anything else matters. I am also aware that I have the privilege that despite the outcome of this film, I might get a few more of chances, but if I am not good nobody will want to put their money on me. More than anyone, I am dreading my grandfather's reaction. Until I get his stamp of approval, nothing else matters.

Karan Deol on matters of the heart, the senior Deols and why he chose to make his big Bollywood debut with a love story
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2019)

Karan Deol looks comfortable seated in a sea-facing room of a suburban hotel. He is the third generation of the Deols, gearing up for his Bollywood debut in daddy Sunny’s third directorial, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, and gleefully informs that his first media interaction happened at age seven. “My grandfather (Dharmendra) was in an interview while I sat quietly nearby, playing with my toys, when he suddenly called out to me. Being a shy kid, I was hesitant, but he pulled me to his side and urged me to speak. It’s a cute memory,” he smiles.

Karan’s nickname is Rocky because Sunny is a huge fan of Sylvester Stallone and the Rocky films. Given that the Deols are known for their action films, it’s unusual that he is starting his career with a love story. “I’m an intense romantic and I’m starting with a love story because I found it interesting. While we were brainstorming, the idea just came up and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas was born. Having said that, there is action in the film too as another side to my character is unveiled later in the film. It’s a film about external factors which influence the lives of the couple and try to stop the romance from blossoming,” explains the debutant, promising an interesting outing at the theatres. He then goes on to surprise you by revealing that there is a scene in the film in which his dialogue is similar to his father’s iconic line, “Yeh dhai kilo ka haath” from his 1993 crime drama Damini.

In school, Karan was a reserved kid who wanted to take part in plays but was too scared to do so and would find comfort in films instead. He would watch animation, the Star Wars franchise and Quentin Tarantino films. “When I felt low, I used music to vent. I started writing poetry when I was 12 and it went on to become a hobby. I still have most of them except for the earlier ones, I wish I had preserved them too. I have also written some short stories and given a chance, I would love to write a script too,” avers Karan, adding that love and angst are his two favourite topics to write on.

He broke the news of wanting to be an actor to his father first. “Dad said we have to tell my grandfather as he is the boss in the house. When I did, he promised his support but cautioned me about the competition, asserting that I had to be mentally and emotionally strong,” flashbacks the youngster, admitting that while he is a quiet guy in real life, he becomes the character and enjoys the moment while on set. “My grandfather was nervous for me, but gradually everyone eased into the idea,” he shares. They shot across Himachal Pradesh in extreme conditions, going to places which didn’t have proper roads. “But dad is a taskmaster and we’d trek for a couple of hours, set up the shot and shoot. I wonder if many of those locations have even been seen on screen before,” Karan points out, adding that at night, the temperature would go down to minus three-four degrees, which was physically challenging, but the memories will always be warm. Prod him for details and he recalls a wall of ice which he had to slide on with co-star Sahher Bambba. “There was a waterfall too, a blast of cold wind and icicles. We had to keep going with a smile on our faces. It was scary but gave us an adrenaline rush,” he informs.

The film had been in the making for a long time and there have been sporadic rumours that certain portions were reshot. Karan attributes this to global warming which has made the weather unpredictable all over the world. “When we were in Manali, the monsoons kicked in early. When the rains continued for a week, we had no option but to return home. It even started snowing early but dad was determined to shoot at these same locations, so we waited,” he reveals, adding that sometimes they had to reshoot because the framing went wrong in all the chaos. “If it wasn’t for this, we’d have finished earlier.”

What’s his favourite Dharmendra film? Pat comes the answer, “Chupke Chupke.” And a film of Sunny’s which he likes the best? “Arjun,” he replies, recalling that the umbrella sequence in the 1985 Rahul Rawail directorial was fabulous. “It is a film that can be remade today. It was about politics and a young man. The aesthetics may have changed but the topic is still relevant.”

The family was ecstatic when Sunny won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur in May. Karan informs that his father doesn’t discuss politics at home, it’s always movies. “We didn’t know what to expect when he was getting into politics but were happy for him when he was elected. He went through a lot and deserved it,” says Deol Jr.

Buzz is, the debutant already has another film in his kitty. Hesitantly, but with a big smile, Karan nods, “I do. It is a comedy, very different from what I have done in my first film.”

One last question: Is he in love, for real? “I am somewhat in love I would say,” he blushes and clams up.