Abhay Deol has inherited the surname but has chosen the road less travelled in the industry Beneath the easygoing, likeable façade, Abhay Deol is an intense and mature actor," director Dibaker Bannerji had claimed. But it's hard to believe; the actor's sincere smile and energy are fiercely infectious. And though his name bears the tag of one of Bollywood's most famous families, Abhay, veteran actor Dharmendra's nephew, wears the fame lightly. Between mouthfuls of breakfast and readying himself for the special screening of his latest release, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Abhay talks incessantly and confidently about his film, the Deol in him and the niche he's carved out for himself in the industry that. "I think it's easier to be an offbeat actor today," he asserts. "With so much talent around and people willing to experiment with progressive scripts, it isn't difficult to do diverse cinema." The actor debuted in 2004 with Imtiaz Ali's Socha Na Tha, but hasn't rushed into movies, choosing instead to do just six films – each of which stood out for unconventional plots or the different approach to the storyline - over five years. They were not major commercial successes but regardless won him accolades for his performances. As a result, today, the actor may not be the industry's poster boy but he's applauded by critics and his career graph is being observed with great expectations. And none of it has to do with the power of his surname. Most of his colleagues vouch that he's nothing like the typical Deols and never uses the name to his benefit. "Acting may be family profession but he's chosen the hard way out," says Minissha Lamba, Abhay's co-star in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Abhay, however, clarifies that acting cannot be in the genes. "But it can have something to do with the environment one grows up in," he says, adding that he wanted to be an actor for as long as he can remember. The surname has indeed helped him but it has also brought with it prejudices – people expected him to be an action hero in Socha Na Tha, a romantic comedy - but Abhay has worked hard to distance himself from stereotypes. "I am noticed today because I stuck to my guns and choice of the kind of films I wanted to do, which is what brought out my individuality," he asserts. Abhay has portrayed tremendous potential for "different" cinema but the 32-year-old insists that the move hasn't been deliberate and he doesn't intend to slot himself in any category of actors. "I don't mind doing action films; in fact, I'm dying to do one. But there has to be some substance in the film I do, something that will make me, as an intelligent viewer, want to watch it," he argues, citing as an example Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. "Well, Ek Chalis… was an out-and-out commercial film but it had some superb one-liners, which many people took back home." The affable actor is also quick to share credit with his directors, most of who have either been debutants or fairly new in the industry. "Maybe it has to do with lack of experience," he chuckles, adding, "No, seriously, when you're experienced you prefer to play safe and go by the formula. Debutants have a fresh approach and that is what probably worked for me." The directors of future projects, however, are far from inexperienced. Abhay will be seen next in Anurag Kashyap's Dev.D, which releases in February next year. But currently, the talk of the town is his character Lucky, the Punjabi protagonist in Oye Lucky…, who, Abhay says, is as mad a Punjabi as himself. Ask him if he's nervous and he quickly shoots back, "I'm one of those who don't realise they're travelling till the flight takes off. Right now, I'm just packing my bags," he signs off, flashing yet another of his charming smiles.
