‘I’ll choose fans’ response over critics’ opinion any day’

[Some critics] don’t know what exactly they want to say. They will praise a film from start to finish in their article... and then give it 1.5 stars BOBBY DEOL, ACTOR

Actor Bobby Deol made a comeback of sorts on the big screen after a hiatus of four years with the film Poster Boys, which released last month. Though the film got an average response at the box office, Bobby insists that his only aim is to entertain the audience and not worry about the rest.

“I believe in doing good work and being a part of an interesting film that gives you creative satisfaction. That gives me a high,” says Bobby.

Asked what matters to him more between fans’ response and critics’ opinion, Bobby says, “I’ll choose my fans any day. We are here to entertain people and that’s what I have tried to do through all my films. So if a fan doesn’t like my film, that makes me upset. [Also] I don’t wait for my fans to say that I wasn’t good in a film. I know when my film is bad and I say it myself.”

The actor adds that a critic’s opinion would be the last thing to bother him. “A critic’s job is to criticise, so let them do what they are meant to do,” says Bobby.

Recalling the days when he was written off by critics despite delivering great performances, Bobby says it only convinced him to not pay any heed to “self-appointed” critics. The actor explains, “Even when I have given hits, critics have written bad things about me, so I could never understand that. Why do you have to write something bad because the film was clearly doing well?”

The actor also feels that more often than not, the critics are not sure whether they have liked a film or not. “While people love to read these nasty film reviews, it’s quite strange that most critics are so confused,” he says. “They don’t know what exactly they want to say. They will praise a film from start to finish in their article... and then give it 1.5 stars.”

PHOTO: AMAL KS/HT