Bobby Deol reveals Karisma Kapoor was the first choice for his debut film Barsaat, got ‘insecure’ as film got delayed: ‘It was destiny that Twinkle Khanna…’

Yeah, time just flies. I know, it’s a great year. I’m just very lucky I’m celebrating my 30 years with the success of The Ba***ds of Bollywood. What makes it nicer and more special that I made the show with Aryan, who’s taken his first steps. I completed 30, and he’s just put his first foot forward.

You turned a star overnight with your debut. But after a long, rough patch in the 2010s, you had to transition into becoming more of an actor. How easy or challenging was that?

When I began my career, I became a star. For the first 10 years, I had some great hits. So, people give you this title of a ‘star.’ But that stops you from trying different kinds of characters. You get an image, and it’s a very tough fight to break out of that. It took me many, many years. Eventually, it thankfully started with OTT platforms. It was Class of ’83, a film I did with Red Chillies (Entertainment, Shah Rukh Khan’s production house). A week after that, Aashram released and changed everything for me. People saw me in a completely different light altogether. Then I did Love Hostel on ZEE5, which again gave me a different character. I always think that your work speaks for you. And that’s what happened with me. When you get acknowledged as an actor, your innings becomes longer.

What is your first memory from the set of Barsaat?

I have so many memories! The mahurat shot was done on my birthday, on January 27. I was 22-23 years old. Shekhar Kapur was directing the film at that point. I remember the first shot I gave — I had to walk down a flight of stairs, look in a particular direction, and give a smile. We shot that film for 27 days, and it got shelved. Shekhar got Bandit Queen (1994), and he wanted to do that. My dad (Dharmendra) wanted my film to get done in time. So, Rajkumar Santoshi directed my first film.

Twinkle Khanna also made her debut alongside yours in Barsaat. But she quit acting five years later and said she never wanted to be an actor. Could you sense her discomfort back then?

Actually, I was supposed to start with Karisma Kapoor. But my film’s story wasn’t getting developed. The scripting was still going on. At that point, women’s careers were such that they couldn’t work for many years. That’s changed now, thankfully. So, Karisma was a little insecure, and I don’t blame her for that. So, she decided to start her career with Prem Qaidi (1991). I think it was destiny that Twinkle and I make our debuts together. Quitting the industry was obviously her decision. She wasn’t comfortable at all. She’s always been fearless. She has a certain attitude that you can see even now. She has a mind of her own. She has a lot of strong conviction. That’s why she’s become a writer, and she’s good at all that.

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The leading ladies of your early films had an equal standing, whether it’s Kajol in Gupt (1997), Preity Zinta in Soldier (1998), and Rani Mukerji in Badal and Bichhoo (2000). How was your equation with them?

It was great working with all of them. I’ve gotten along with whoever I’ve worked with. I’m very close to Preity and Rani. I always call Preity Pritam Singh. In fact, she had to clarify on Instagram last year: “My real name is not Pritam Singh!” (laughs). She’d call me Bobby D. in a particular way. We began on set by having an argument over something. I think that broke the ice, and we became good friends. While working on Bichhoo, Rani and I also had an argument, and then we became good friends. In my career, they’re two people whom I can call friends because they’re always there for me. Whenever we meet, it doesn’t feel like we haven’t met for a long time.

Is that your strategy, to have an argument to break the ice with a first-time co-star

No, it wasn’t a strategy. I’m just being honest about how we became good friends. Sometimes, not getting along with someone in the beginning and then getting along later makes you closer, I think.