I am more fearless now, says actor Bobby Deol

Nonika Singh

In the hugely popular web series Aashram, he takes to the throne-like seat as if to the manor born and in this zoom conference Bobby Deol relaxes in a winged chair at his home with the same ease. Only charming and handsome as ever, it’s hard to imagine Prakash Jha could see a conniving baba in him!

Even Bobby was taken aback and quizzed the director with whom he had been pining to work with for a long time, “Are you sure? Am I hearing it right?” But then he gives full marks to Jha his belief that he could pull off a character like Nirala Baba.

Sure Bobby has played some grey shades in his career before too in films like Race 3. But these he reminds were “Not so abominable and were justified in the end.” To step into the shoes of a man whose actions have no justification whatsoever was easier said than done. So, what were the reference points? Bobby explains it as simply as possible. “In my life, especially in my 25-year-long journey in Bollywood, I have come across some good people and some bad ones. As human beings we all have the good and bad in us. And I tapped into those experiences and emotions.” He wants to play diverse parts yet admits, “Bad boys intrigue us more as human beings.”

Only a reel take

The fact that this particular bad man is drawn from real life is something he denies blatantly. “I don’t think Nirala baba is fashioned after any real godman. It is fiction.” Oh really, and Bobby plays along. Refusing to be caught even as we remind him of the uncanny resemblance of his character to this one baba from Haryana right now cooling his heels in a jail, he insists, “I don’t follow any godmen.”

Actually the only man whom he follows rather reposes blind faith in is his father Dharmendra, who remains his only inspiration. Even in the annals of acting he believes,“He is the most versatile actor, far superior than many.” Probe him further if he thinks Dharmendra didn’t really get his due in the film industry and Bobby says, “Well, we are simple people my father simply did his work, went home and looked after his family. There was no PR machinery to propel him and tell the world he is the best actor.”

Great going

As he looks back at his own career, he thinks he too made the same mistake of not promoting himself and some bad choices as an actor too. If he were to turn back the clock, he could rectify a few things. But then he laughs and interjects, “I wouldn’t have known these were mistakes.” As things are going exceptionally well for him with critics/ viewers/ fans going gaga over his latest phase, has he too rediscovered the actor in him? He observes, “You need right kind of subjects for people to appreciate you. Viewers saw me in Class of ‘83 and week after came Aashram, and seeing me in two contrasting characters made them sit up and take notice.”

For Aashram coming his way, he is grateful to Prakash Jha. Once again Bobby won’t go into technical details. He simply sumps him up Jha as an amazing man full of energy, who would show up at the gym during the shooting so early in the morning that, “By the time I would reach he would be halfway through his work out.” He also shares how Jha’s maiden foray into digital space was akin to “making three films at one go.”

Bouncing back

OTT platform, where Bobby is savouring his newfound success, according to him, is full of, “Immense creative possibilities.” So is his career. Apart from starting work in Apne 2, he has also signed yet another Red Chillies’ production Love Hostel, and once more it’s a negative part.

Is he afraid of being typed? Well, Bobby, who is far more fearless in his choices in his new innings, is ready to go with the flow. Besides who can predict success or failure? Having tasted both the upside and downside, he avers, “Failure can put you down, but not break you. Today I know even if I fail tomorrow I will bounce back.” Like he has today!