He entered Bollywood with a bang in 1995. Now, the actor is celebrating his three-decade-long journey in Indian cinema.
The 56-year-old became the poster boy of thrillers and romance with his intense performances and boy-next-door charm in the late 90s.
Then came a time, when his career took a downturn. But he survived fame, failure, and found his way back silently, powerfully, and with eyes that said everything words couldn’t.
After a brief pause, the actor made a roaring comeback with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2023 film opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The film, blending love, rage, and family dysfunction, became one of the year’s biggest blockbusters.
The blockbuster film saw him as a fierce, silent, and magnetic villain, Abrar Haque. Though he had barely 15 minutes of screen time with zero dialogues, his electrifying screen presence made him a nationwide obsession.
Remember the viral “Jamal Kudu” entry song? The song became an internet sensation overnight and turned the actor into a meme, a mood, and a movement. Yes, you guessed that right. We are talking about Bobby Deol.
Fans claimed he stole the show and “overshadowed” Ranbir Kapoor’s three hours of hard work. But Bobby reacted to the comparisons with pure humility.
In an interview with Filmygyan, he said, “It’s nothing like that. If Ranbir hadn’t managed for those three hours, my 15 minutes would have no value.”
Bobby Deol credited Ranbir’s intensity and craft for giving Abrar’s short-lived arc its larger-than-life impact. “It happened because of how Ranbir performed his character. If he hadn’t done it right, my entry wouldn’t have meant anything,” Bobby explained.
He added, “See, an action film, a drama, only works when you have a strong antagonist and a strong protagonist. Both have to work towards winning. It can’t be that you know from the start who’s going to win. Then it’s no fun, not for the audience either.”
Animal also featured Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri, and Anil Kapoor in key roles. While Bobby’s character met his end in the film, the story is far from over.
Ranbir Kapoor is set to reprise his role in the much-anticipated sequel, Animal Park. The upcoming film promises to dive deeper into the psychological warfare introduced in the first film.
