Bobby Deol has no doubts about who should play his late father Dharmendra in a potential biopic — and the answer is a firm ‘nobody.’
During a recent appearance on the popular talk show Aap Ki Adalat, an audience member asked Bobby to choose between himself and his elder brother Sunny Deol for the role. Without a moment’s hesitation, the actor replied, ‘Nobody.’
Overcome with emotion, he added, ‘No one can be like him. The kind of person he was, there can never be another.’
Bobby defends his father’s temper
Another audience member brought up stories of Dharmendra reportedly losing his temper and lashing out at people who misbehaved. Bobby didn’t shy away from defending his father, offering a side of the story that many may not have known.
‘Dad was the kind of person who could never tolerate anyone speaking unfairly or disrespectfully. He did indeed raise his hands and hit hard. But afterwards, he would bring that same person inside, feed them food, give them milk, buy them new clothes. That’s the kind of person he was,’ Bobby said.
He further revealed his own pacifist nature: ‘I always felt bad whenever he hit someone. I have never been like that. Since childhood, I have seen that I never felt the need to raise my hand on anyone, and I don’t like doing it either.’
The vulnerability in Bobby’s voice was palpable as he spoke about his father’s legacy, which continues to loom large over Bollywood. Dharmendra, the iconic ‘He-Man’ of Hindi cinema, passed away last year, leaving behind a grieving family and millions of fans.
Bobby’s upcoming film ‘Bandar’
On the professional front, Bobby Deol is gearing up for the release of Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming thriller Bandar, which hits theatres this Friday. The film, inspired by real events, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, where it garnered significant attention.
The movie boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Raj B Shetty, Riddhi Sen, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jitendra Joshi, Nagesh Bhonsle, and Ankush Gedam. Written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, Bandar promises to be a gripping watch.
Fans are eager to see Bobby in yet another intense role, this time under Kashyap’s bold directorial vision. Whether he’s pouring his heart out about his father or bringing a character to life on screen, Bobby continues to wear his emotions on his sleeve — and his audience wouldn’t have it any other way.