Bobby Deol’s journey in cinema has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. He burst onto the scene in 1995 with Barsaat, earning instant fame and following it up with hits like Soldier, Badal, Bichoo, and Ajnabee. But the streak didn’t last forever — a series of underperforming films pushed him into a rough patch, one that made the industry and even acquaintances drift away. In a recent chat, the actor spoke candidly about that period of isolation and how the same people who once overlooked him now approach him again after his resurgence.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Bobby recalled how the shift in people’s behavior was gradual. He explained that though people were polite on the surface, their distance became clear over time. “I started noticing that invitations to events or parties stopped coming in,” he said, adding that his family was never big on the party circuit anyway. “When I was doing well, everyone wanted to be around. But once my films didn’t work, the warmth faded. That’s how the world works — people are with you only when you’re useful to them.”
Despite that realization, Bobby insists he harbors no resentment. He sees it as a natural part of life and the entertainment business. After all, once Aashram and Animal reignited his career, those same people resurfaced. “It’s the same everywhere, not just in film circles,” he reflected. “People change with time, and that’s fine. I don’t hold grudges. Some of those who once moved away now come with work offers, and I meet them with the same respect.”
Bobby’s career revival has been remarkable. After years of being away from the spotlight through the 2000s and 2010s, his role in Prakash Jha’s Aashram reminded audiences of his screen presence and intensity. His turn as the menacing antagonist in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal (2023) cemented his return to the big league. Most recently, he appeared in Aryan Khan’s debut project, The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, signaling that Bobby Deol is no longer making a comeback — he’s firmly back in the game.
