Bobby Deol happy to have found his pace again with Race 3
Reclaiming lost glory — this is how actor Bobby Deol’s journey can be summed up. One of the big stars in the 1990s and the early 2000s, he confesses that he “lost his way” somewhere after that, but with the release of Race 3, he’s again making headlines, and has also got biggies such as Housefull 4 and Yamla Pagla Deewana 3. Excerpts from an interview:
Race 3 has notched up big numbers, along with mixed reviews. How does the success of the film make you feel?
I wish the reviews were better, because we all worked very hard on the film. But I’m happy that the film has done well at the box office.
After Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013), your comeback film was Poster Boys (2017), but Race 3 is being called your comeback film…
Every actor has an image. I had always done films that were stylised, larger-thanlife action thrillers... so my fans always wanted to see me in those kind of roles. This is why when Poster Boys happened, it didn’t do well at the box office, but people loved my work. As an actor, I felt encouraged, and I felt that something good would come my way. Also, nowadays, it’s all about appearance, coupled with your talent. You can’t just have good looks, and not be talented. Today’s kids have to be a complete package.
People have been praising your refreshed version. How does all this fan love make you feel?
My fans were always there. They just wondered what happened to me, where did I disappear. I guess every individual goes through a stage in their life, where they lose focus and their way. I’m glad I found my way back. I always saw my fans everywhere, and wondered ‘Why am I not getting work?’ I realised that I wasn’t taking care of myself, I was waiting for work to come to me, I didn’t go out to get work.
Do you feel that’s where things went wrong — that you were not proactive about getting roles?
Yes. I didn’t realise that you have to really, really go out and move with the trends of what’s happening with the new generation. Now I’m working hard, transformed from what I used to look years back. I want to do my best till the day I die.
Would things have been completely different if you were a newcomer in the current times?
Things would’ve been different. All the kids are so prepared, even while giving interviews. For example, take Saqib (Saleem), who is with me in Race 3. I call him ‘munna (little boy)’.
In my time, at his age, I’d be nervous during the personal interviews , the Q&As that happened. But they have to be prepared. Everybody wants to make it big, but Bollywood is not an easy place to be. Every Friday is ‘live or die’, no matter how successful you are.