Family Matters

Yamla Pagla Deewana is the story of three conmen — one father and two sons. “It is the cliched story of being separated from your sibling at a young age and later reuniting with them,” says Sunny,who believes it is the comic element that is the USP of the film. The older Deol son considers his father and brother to be better actors than him. But Bobby says,“Both of them are obviously better than me. My father is the best comedian and actor we have ever known.” Dharmendra himself,who is celebrating his 50th year in the industry,has said time and again how happy he is to be working with his two sons.

It is not just comedy that we see in the promos,there is also a fair bit of dancing. Ask Sunny about this and he laughs out loud. “Dancing is the only thing that doesn’t come naturally to me. Earlier,I was very conscious while dancing on screen; now I just do what I feel like,” he says. Bobby,on the other hand,like his father,loves to let his hair down occasionally. “Dad and I had a great time doing certain songs in the film,but our favourite is the title track.”

The Deols were last seen together in the tearjerker Apne. “That was very emotional. We did not want the audience to cry again. We waited a while before Samir Karnik came to us with the script of Yamla,” says Sunny. The film spoofs many of their previous hits,for instance,the hand pump scene from Sunny’s Gadar- Ek Prem Katha. Ask Bobby which of his movies have been spoofed,and he is quick to respond. “None. I don’t think any of my movies are worth spoofing.”

For a clan that is a prominent part of Bollywood,the Deols don’t really enjoy the limelight. “When you make so many wrong choices in terms of films you just want to shut yourself up,” says Bobby,who has been missing from the social circuit for long. Sunny,too,prefers to work and then go back to his family. “I don’t like talking too much or giving interviews. I value my space,” he says.

But when it comes to working with the family,both of them simply love the idea. “I can just be myself and nobody is going to judge me,” says Bobby. Brother Sunny adds,“There is a lot of security when you work with family. Sometimes,with other actors one feels that one shouldn’t intrude too much.”

Having their father in the same frame as them must have been overwhelming. “We are done with being emotional after Apne. Now we just work fine,” says Bobby. Sunny regards his father as a complete actor. “He has done so many diverse roles and that too so convincingly. From Pratigya to Jugnu,Sholay and Shalimar,each role has been path breaking. Yamla too will soon join the league.”

Movie Madness
The shoot for the song Charha De Rang was the toughest as the 100 dancers and the crew had to brave adverse weather conditions

To imitate his father in Dharamveer,Bobby carried his heroine on his shoulder and did Dharmendra proud.

The title Yamla Pagla Deewana was bought by Marathi actor Sachin Pilgaonkar. He graciously let them have it when Deols requested him.

While most of the cast in the film preferred a balanced diet throughout the shoot in Punjab,the Deols savoured all the delicacies the state had to offer.