Bobby Deol reveals how Imtiaz Ali 'cheated him', fight with alcoholism

Bobby Deol, who celebrates his 50th birthday today, in a candid chat opens up about how he felt cheated by director Imtiaz Ali, the DJ episode and his fight with depression and alcoholism

Bobby Deol

Bobby Deol completes a half-century today -- he turns 50. And the actor is really excited is his big comeback vehicle 'Poster Boys'.

The birthday boy gave a very candid, touching and revealing interview recently that moved people immensely.

In the Huffington Post interview, Bobby admits that it was his inability to adapt to changing times that led to his gradual disappearance from the movies.

He is quoted as saying by the website, "The 90s, everything was slow. People didn't talk about themselves all the time. Your work did the talking. It was rare to see or access a star and that made being one very interesting. There was no social media, no internet, things were generally simpler. Suddenly, there was this transition and I couldn't adapt to it. But now, I want to change that. I really, really want to change that. I didn't even realize when my career started slipping away. You usually don't..."

He revealed that stories about his unprofessionalism and the misconception that he was a rich spoilt brat led to offers drying up. He said, "There were stories about my unprofessionalism. People thought I am a rich spoilt brat who was happy with life and who didn't want to work. They thought I am extremely lazy. I don't know why people thought that. I have never delayed a film in my life. Ask my producers, I was always on time. But it's easy to believe a negative story and the faster it travels, fiction turns into fact and it's an endless cycle."

Bobby Deol in a still from 'Gupt' song. Pic/YouTube

Bobby, who has starred in just hits as Gupt, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, and Solider in the 90's, is so passionate about acting and hungry for roles that he's ready to even do character roles. He revealed in the interview, "People here think I'm Dharmendra's son, I used to be a big star so I'll still prefer to do only starry roles. No, man. I am chill. Give me a good character role and I'll be as good as I used to be. I feel no shame in asking for work. Why should anyone?

The actor reinforces the point by talking about Poster Boys in which he plays a school teacher, a role that doesn't go with "Bobby Deol's conventional image". But he says that that's going to be his approach from now. He wants to "break the stereotype and surprise people, especially the film industry so they see me differently".

Shreyas Talpade, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol in 'Poster Boys'

The lack of work took its toll on him and he reveals how he almost became a "total alcoholic". He was quoted as saying, "There was a particular phase where I turned to the bottle and was on the verge of becoming a total alcoholic. My wife, Tanya, who is the most beautiful person in the whole world, a source of constant support, told me, "What're you doing? This isn't going to help. Why are you being so self-destructive?"."

Talking about the controversy surrounding his DJing career, Bobby revealed, "I practically got conned. Some dude approached me to show up at a club and advertised it as if I was going to be the DJ for the night. He told me about this but assured me that I don't really have to play... It's an intricate job, not everyone can just get behind a console and get on it. So I showed up thinking I'll hang around and leave but I know it backfired. People made a lot of fun. Now, a friend of mine sings, 'DJ wale Bobby mera gaana baja do,' to me all the time."

ALSO READ: Embarrassing! DJ Bobby Deol's 'Gupt' songs flop, guests demand refund

Bobby is not bitter about his experiences and has moved on. Talking about the industry and how sometimes even friends cheat friends, Bobby reveals that initially it was he who was supposed to star in 'Jab We Met', but was cheated out of a role.

Tanya Deol. File Pic

The website quoted him as saying, "I was also to do Jab We Met. Back then, it was titled Geet. I had seen Socha Na Tha and instantly reached out to Imtiaz saying that he's an incredible storyteller with a terrific future. I told him that I wanted to work with him and he had the script of (what is now) Jab We Met ready. He was looking for financiers..."

He said that the production house he approached didn't want Imtiaz Ali and Kareena Kapoor wasn't interested in it. Then he suddenly came to know that Shahid Kapoor and Kareena had been signed for the film. He said, "...Suddenly I read that Ashtavinayak has signed Imtiaz for Jab We Met and Kareena is doing the film! And she had gotten her then boyfriend, Shahid Kapoor to act opposite her. I was like, wow. Quite an industry. We were also to do Highway together but he again did his own thing. But I have no hard feelings against him. He is a great director and doing so well. We're still friends. But I always tell him: 'Imtiaz, I won't watch any of your films until you make one with me. That'll be your best film"."

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