‘ARE THEY AWARDS NIGHT OR A COLLECTION OF ACTORS AT NIGHT?’
Actor Sunny Deol says he doesn’t like to attend award functions as these events are hardly about celebrating genuine talent
Sunny Deol is a no-nonsense guy. Whether it’s taking a stand on an issue or his belief system, the actor doesn’t believe in pleasing people with sugar-coated words. No wonder that he was seen as arrogant and someone who has an attitude during his initial years in Bollywood. “I still remember those days when people would call me for parties and I wouldn’t go and they would get so offended because main nahi aaya. (Because I didn’t attend). Some even said ‘What does he think of himself. Who does he think he is?’ But slowly, they understood that’s the way I am,” says the actor.
Sunny says that he finds all parties the same. “Be it filmy party or any other party… give me any party which is not the same. All are similar — alcohol, gossip and then the same stuff,” he says.
The actor who was seen in the recently-released film Poster Boys, says that he doesn’t have an attitude problem but it’s just that he was never into parties. “I am shy and I have been like that from childhood. I don’t attend film events even today. Thankfully, people have understood that I don’t have to do something I don’t like.”
Sunny believes that everybody has their own way of enjoying life. “For me, it’s working out, going out on a hike, driving around or listening to music,” he shares.
Parties aside, why don’t we see him attending any awards night either? “I don’t know if they are awards night or a collection of actors at night,” says the actor, who has won two National Film Awards — Special Jury Award for Ghayal (1990) and Best Supporting Actor for Damini (1993).
“To me, it’s not an award night. If it was an award night, one would go for an award night. And how do you give awards anyway? Here [in Bollywood], I know people say things like I will charge this much money or I will only come if I get this award or I won’t come and all. This is what we are. Let me not go on that track further,” says Sunny.
He says that the love and adulation of fans is the biggest reward that an actor can ask for. “When somebody meets me outside and says I loved your film, or watched it so many times and my son got so influenced that he joined the army—those are the awards that you didn’t even ask for. You did something good that touched someone’s life, I value those awards.”
SUNNY DEOL, ACTOR I know people say things like I will charge this much or I’ll only come if I get this award or I won’t come and all. This is what we are