For Bobby Deol, one of the biggest personal shifts in recent years has been his decision to give up alcohol. The actor, who had earlier spoken about a creeping dependency, said the choice stemmed from both professional and personal awareness.“For an actor, your body, your face, are the commodities that you’re selling. I cannot afford to mess with that,” he told Esquire India, adding, “As I grow older, I feel tired faster than I would a few years ago. I need to take greater care of myself.”
‘I don’t miss it at all’
Having quit alcohol completely a year and a half ago, Deol admitted the transition was easier than he expected. “I don’t miss it. In fact, I keep thinking, wait, it was this easy?” he said. “Two birthdays and two New Year’s have passed. And I haven’t felt the urge. That surprised me.”The change, he revealed, hasn’t just impacted his health but also the atmosphere at home.
‘It’s improved my relationship with my family’
Reflecting on the decision, Bobby Deol said watching his father, Dharmendra, struggle with similar issues had a lasting impact on him. “I’ve seen what it can do,” he said, adding that he didn’t want the same for himself.What sobriety has brought him, he explained, is a sense of presence. “It’s improved my relationship with my family more than anything,” he said, noting that it has allowed him to be more present—with his sons, at the dinner table, and in everyday moments.In an industry that often romanticises excess, Deol believes restraint is the braver path.
‘Nobody has time for bad behaviour anymore’
The actor also spoke about how the industry has evolved over the years, especially in terms of professionalism.“One of the biggest differences from the ’90s to now is that nobody has time for all that anymore,” he said. “Everything is so expensive—each day of shoot is such a cost—that nobody is going to put up with bad behaviour. Maybe once or twice they’ll let it slide, but if you’re going to be difficult, they’re just going to take someone else.”He added, “There are certain actors, and I’ve come across some, who still are badly behaved, but I just feel really sad for them. I’ve seen this story before and trust me, at the end of the day, it will be them left wondering why things went wrong, why the phone stopped ringing and why they’re so lonely. You can’t just throw tantrums and expect everyone to be okay with it.”
Remembering his father through memories and moments
As the conversation drew to a close, Deol found himself returning to thoughts of Dharmendra. “You know, I keep watching his reels on Instagram,” he said. “He was so candid… so full of warmth. Sometimes it feels like he’s talking directly to me.”He shared that fans often send him old photographs of his father—unexpected reminders that bring both comfort and nostalgia. For the preview of Ikkis, Dharmendra’s final on-screen appearance, Deol chose to wear one of his father’s favourite shirts.“He’d wear it everywhere,” he smiled. “So I took it out and wore it at the premiere. It felt like he was there with me.”
‘Loss has its own way of bringing a family closer’
Grief, he admitted, has also brought him closer to his half-sisters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol.“I feel we’re all dealing with it in our own ways. Sometimes you misunderstand each other because you’re hurting… everyone feels their pain is more than the other’s,” he said, before adding, “But you give it time. Let it heal… Loss has its own way of bringing a family closer.”
‘Ab tu khud ko pehchaan gaya’
Deol also recalled a rare moment of acknowledgment from his father during the later years of his career. As Dharmendra’s health began to decline, there was a quiet sense of closure in knowing that both he and his brother Sunny had found their footing again in the industry.Dharmendra, not one for overt praise, had expressed his feelings in a simple yet profound way. After one of Deol’s releases, he told him, “Ab tu khud ko pehchaan gaya.”For Bobby, it wasn’t applause—it was something far more meaningful: a father’s recognition.