Bobby Deol has been in the industry for decades, and the man has stories for days. In a recent candid chat with Rajat Sharma, the ‘Barsaat’ star opened up about some seriously funny behind-the-scenes moments from his hit films. From refusing an intimate scene because of onion breath to playful fights with co-stars, Bobby spilled all the chai.
The Onion Incident with Manisha Koirala
Remember the 1997 thriller ‘Gupt: The Hidden Truth’? Bobby played Sahil Sinha alongside Kajol and Manisha Koirala. But there’s a scene that almost didn’t happen — and the reason is pure gold. Bobby recalled that during the shoot, it was cold, and someone was selling chana zor garam. Manisha was eating it with great pleasure. The problem? An intimate scene was pending where she had to bite his chin during a song. “I was unable to give any expressions due to the smell of onions from her mouth,” Bobby laughed. “How do I take revenge on her?”
But Bobby didn’t stop there. He revealed that later, during a college fight scene, a new actor was playing Manisha’s brother who had to beat Bobby up. Being the prankster he was, Bobby told the actor to eat onions to improve his acting. “I made him eat so many onions, but when he gave the shot, Manisha did not behave any differently. You are immature at that age,” he shrugged. Classic Bobby — turning a smelly situation into a full-blown prank war.
Playful Fights and Friendships – Twinkle, Rani, and Preity
Bobby also addressed old rumours about playful arguments with Twinkle Khanna during ‘Barsaat’. He explained that they were both very young, and he had chronic stomach issues. “I used to keep talking about my stomach problems — if I used the washroom, if I am going to, how it was. She used to get irritated,” he said. When Twinkle mentioned it in an interview, Bobby called her up and said, “How can you say it in an interview?” But he insists it was nothing serious — just two young actors being silly.
Then there’s Rani Mukerji. During ‘Bichhoo’, Bobby famously called her “Dedh footiya” (one-and-a-half feet tall) as a tease. But the real bonding moment came during a song shoot on a raft. Rani wanted to stand facing the wind so her hair would blow backwards, but Bobby disagreed because her hair kept hitting his face. “We both didn’t agree and fought over it. But after that one fight, we bonded so much. She used to bring me good food from home. She is a wonderful person,” Bobby shared warmly. Yaar, that’s the kind of friendship we love to hear about.
And of course, there’s Preity Zinta. Bobby revealed he used to call her “Pritam Singh” during ‘Soldier’ (1998). He knew Preity from before the film because he used to party a lot. “My film was on hold, so I used to take her out every night in my father’s van with other friends,” he said. The nickname became so famous that when it resurfaced online, Preity had to clarify it wasn’t her real name. Bobby laughed, “She is wonderful. I am so happy for her. She has become a mother now. I and my wife Tanya went to dinner with her just a few days ago.”
Bobby’s Upcoming Projects and Current Bond with Preity
On the work front, Bobby Deol is keeping busy. He’s set to appear in Anurag Kashyap’s action-thriller ‘Bandar’, releasing in theatres on June 5. He also has ‘Alpha’ lined up, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh, expected later this year. But what’s clear is that Bobby’s bonds with his co-stars remain strong. From onion pranks to dinner dates with Preity, the Deol star proves that old friendships never fade — they just get spicier.