Vijay Singh Deol, professionally known as Bobby Deol made a dhamakedaar entry into the Indian film industry with the movie ‘Barsaat’ in October 1995. Even after doing some breakthrough roles in several commercial movies like ‘Gupt’ and ‘Soldier’, he had a rough patch in his career.
In a recent interview, the actor who completed 25 years in the industry said that he was supposed to star in the movie ‘Ajnabee’. However, Akshay Kumar ended up doing the role intended for him and he played a different character. Calling the industry ‘ruthless’, Hindustan Times quoted Bobby saying:
“The people I offered the project to, they eventually took the project from me and made it with themselves. That’s how it is, this industry is ruthless.”
He was also dropped out of ‘Highway’.
However, the ‘Race 3’ actor feels that his journey since his debut has been amazing. News18 quoted him saying, “When the film (Barsaat) had released, everyone had loved it and the performances.”
“I remember being extremely nervous before the release but my father and my brother were there with me all the time. I wouldn’t have been able to reach this place in my life without them. But ‘Barsaat’ definitely set the ball rolling for me and Twinkle.”
“Completing 25 years in the films today seems surreal,” he added.
He also revealed that he was dropped out from the movie ‘Jab We Met’ and was replaced by Shahid Kapoor to play the lead role on the insistence of Kareena Kapoor Khan since she was dating him at that time.
“There was a studio called Shri Ashtavinayak who wanted to sign me. I told them that let’s sign Imtiaz. He has a script ready. And let’s talk to Kareena Kapoor. The producers were like, ‘oh no, that guy will make an expensive film’. Kareena, on the other hand, didn’t even want to meet Imtiaz. I took them to Preity Zinta. She agreed but said she can do it only after 6 months. So we were stuck,” Bobby said.
But later he found out that Kareena signed the film after Imtiaz hired Shahid. “I was like, wow. Quite an industry,” Bobby said, adding that he has no hard feelings against him.
“He is a great director and doing so well. We’re still friends. But I always tell him, ‘Imtiaz, I won’t watch any of your films until you make one with me. That’ll be your best film.’”
Talking to Times Of India, Bobby also opened up about the time when he lost his stardom. “There was a time when I was a big star and I lost my stardom at one point. After that I decided that I wanted to get back.
“I wanted to be known as an actor, I wanted to be known as someone who is capable of different roles and I think it is just the beginning of that chapter in my life.”
He further added, “Right now I am at a place where I am doing something different which people wouldn’t have imagined I could do. People are appreciating my work in my web series ‘Ashram’ and ‘Class of 83’. So I think, it’s a wonderful moment in my life and I am in a happy zone. I understand it does not last that long as I need to keep working hard to maintain it. I am not promising that every time I come up with something it will be a success as I know failures are a part of a career and we have to just stand tall and brave those moments and come out as winners.”
Even though he comes from a family of acclaimed actors, Bobby said he never felt any pressure.
“No, there was no pressure. I never thought about it like that, that my father and brother are big stars. I never got that pressure.”
“The pressure was always to find the right kind of work, to do the right kind of movies, to work hard. We always tend to work hard and make our father or brother feel proud, I think that is something every child goes through and even I went through the same thing and not anything else. I didn’t think about anything. I had to carve my own identity in this industry. I never thought of being someone’s son, I never thought of being someone’s brother, I always thought that I am an actor, who has to do well, who has to work hard.”
The actor is now taking over the OTT platforms with his impactful performances.