Bobby Deol Says 'It Took A Long Time' To Get Close To Sunny Deol, Dharmendra: 'Had 2 Father Figures'

Bobby Deol often expresses his fondness for his older brother Sunny Deol and father Dharmendra on social media. However, their relationship was not as friendly when Bobby was younger. The actor mentioned that growing up, he felt like he had two fathers and it took a while to get friendly with Sunny and Dharmendra.

Appearing on the Humans of Bombay YouTube channel, the actor said, “There’s a big age difference between me and my brother. He’s the eldest and I’m the youngest. So, he’s always treated me like a son. He’s always been protective about me, he’s always correcting me and saying that I get the best. It took a long time for me to get close to him, to become a friend. I had two father figures in my house,” Bobby said.

Speaking about Dharmendra being a strict dad, he said, “That was normal then. It was also because my dad came from a small town. The society, and the culture, and the way people thought and lived was very different in small towns. The city changes your whole life. His dad was always strict with him, so it came naturally to him. My dad wasn’t strict, but he was never a friend while growing up. He was very busy, he was always at work. I would get to see him only for a few hours, and that would also be late at night or early in the morning.”

However, things have changed for the better now. Bobby said, “When you’re growing up, you get confused between respect and being scared. But it wasn’t being scared. It was respect, but we didn’t know how to communicate easily with our parents. But the story has changed now. The whole thing is reversed. They’ve become older, so vulnerable. You have to look after them. Things change, that’s the circle of life.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Bobby Deol’s role as Abrar Haque in Animal marked a strong comeback in his career. Despite limited screen time, his portrayal of the menacing antagonist was highly praised by both fans and critics. His ability to convey intensity with minimal dialogue has been a standout moment in his career.

During the same interview, Bobby explained that director Sandeep Reddy Vanga offered him the role. “I got a message from him. He introduced himself and told me he wanted to meet me for a film. I thought, ‘Is it really him?’ I called and arranged the meeting. He showed me a photo of myself from when I participated in the Celebrity Cricket League and said, ‘I want to cast you because I love this expression of yours,’” Bobby said.