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Simplicity in action
APPLE PIE: Bobby Deol with his favourite companions at New Delhi's Radisson Hotel. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt.
I LOVE lauki and torai ki sabzi and moong ki daal'. Be it demeanour or taste, one word that describes Bobby the best, is simple. Still lauki ki sabzi? "No, I mean it. As a kid, like any other child I also used to hate all these things, but over the years I developed a taste. Part of the reason is the way lauki ki sabzi is cooked in our home. It is completely different from its common image," shares Bobby taking a break with fruits at the New Delhi's Radisson hotel.
In the Capital to promote his latest thriller - Vikram Bhatt's Jurm, it seems Bobby is exercising restraint in his cine choices as well. Launched with Barsaat, a blend of romance and action, over the years Bobby's career graph remains one dimensional - a mix of mush and machismo. "No actor wants to limit himself to a set of roles. Unfortunately, whenever I tried different roles, the films didn't click at the box office. In Hum To Mohabbat Karega, I worked with Kundan Shah, who is known to handle comedy well, but he reserved his worst for us," quips Bobby munching the apple. "Then Dillagi was a cross-over kind of film where my character had negative shades, it didn't work either. It is my action image that remains imprinted in the public memory.
Controlled environment
Public brought the memories of days when Bobby used to have dahi poori and bhelpuri on roadside stalls. "But growing up in a controlled environment has its disadvantages. Whenever I savoured them, more often than not my tummy used to get upset. The problem still persists and so is the love," he admits opting for some biscuits this time.
Deol brothers' insistence to work with a select group of friends is well known and Jurm is no different. Produced by Ashish Singh, Bobby's classmate and son of a family friend K.P. Singh, whose association with the Deols dates back to Pathar Aur Payal, a milestone in Dharmendra's career, isn't this persistence limiting his Bollywood vistas - No Johars, no Chopras, no awards? "Everybody in this industry works with a select few, he feels comfortable working with. Ashish, Vikram and I were classmates and all of us wanted to be in films. Ashish wanted to be an actor though. We made video films together. Now we laugh watching them but at that time we were quite serious about our art house cinema," laughs Bobby. "So when we got an opportunity to work together, I said why not. As for awards, I follow my father's advice. It's good if they come but they give momentary pleasure. What's everlasting is a happy working and family environment."
On workouts though, father's advice seldom works. "I am a lazy bone by papa and bhaiya's standards. They have to literally push me into exercises. These days I am getting attracted towards yoga."
Back to revealing his preferences, Bobby, now with bananas for company says, "I don't like Mughlai food. In exotic, I relish Chinese and Continental provided they are made the Indian way. Otherwise they taste too bland. If nothing is there, a glass of cold coffee is enough for me." Bobby resists oily stuff. That's why he always carries home-cooked food to the sets with his favourite companions - fruits.
Promoting hockey
Recently Deol brothers hit headlines for promoting Premier Hockey League, lending glamour to an unglamorous sport. "We are not brand ambassadors, we promoted it because we believe the sport hasn't got its due. I know like cricket, hockey is also a British legacy but there is something very Indian about the sport. Schools should support hockey so that youngsters could take it up. For instance, I always wanted to play hockey but my school didn't have the option. Bhaiya has played it for some time." Bobby says that the depiction of hockey in films where the stick has been reduced to a weapon to hit somebody hurts him.
Time to talk about his cooking ability and his wife's culinary skills and Bobby ducks for cover. "I can't cook. However, as part of the home science practical, I did make halwa once. And you know I passed the exam. I think she can cook, but she doesn't need to." For once, the star sneaks through.
ANUJ KUMAR
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