For Bobby Deol, the years when work slowed down weren’t just professionally testing—they were emotionally complex. The actor recently revealed that what weighed on him the most was not the lack of opportunities, but the quiet pressure of how his father, Dharmendra, might have seen him during that phase.Despite an already successful career, Bobby admitted he felt the need to prove that the lull wasn’t the end of his journey. However, like many father-son relationships in Indian households, much of what they felt for each other remained unsaid.“No matter how much you love each other,” Bobby told Esquire India, his voice cracking, “you just don’t end up spending as much time as you should with your dad… you know? We get caught up in our own life and one day you wake up and wonder, where did all the time go? How did it go by so fast?”
After his father’s passing, the silences feel louder
The loss of Dharmendra in November has left Bobby reflecting on moments that now feel incomplete. He admitted there’s a lingering sense of regret—of conversations that never happened and time that slipped away.“There are all these days,” he said, pausing mid-thought, “where I wish I had sat with him more. I wish I had asked him more questions.”One memory that continues to stay with him is of his father speaking about poems he had written—verses shaped by his own regret of not spending enough time with his father, Kewal Kishan Singh Deol.“That really moved me,” Bobby said softly. “But I suppose this is the cycle of life?”
Redefining success after loss
In the months following his father’s demise, Bobby said his perspective on life has shifted significantly. The pursuit of professional milestones has taken a backseat to something far more personal.“Now more than ever, I’m mindful of being with my sons, my wife and my family. The box office, the reviews, the roles… eventually they don’t matter, man,” he said. “Success is measured in how much time you can afford to spend with the ones you love. What’s the point of fame and wealth when there’s no one to witness it with you?”
Childhood memories that linger
Growing up, Bobby recalled seeing very little of his father at home. Dharmendra was often juggling multiple film shifts, sometimes even sleeping on sets, and returning home exhausted.But amid those fleeting moments, one memory stands out vividly.When Bobby was just four or five years old, he had a fever that wouldn’t subside. His father returned home after a long day’s shoot, visibly drained. Yet, what followed stayed with him forever.“I still remember, he was so tired, I could see it in his eyes… but he just picked me up, gave me a hug, and held me tight till I fell asleep. I don’t know why I’m missing that moment now… it’s my most beautiful memory of him. I wish I’d had a mobile phone then, I’d record his voice, his face, everything he did for me…”
A conscious change as a father
Today, Bobby said he sees a shift within his own family, especially in his sons, Aryaman Deol and Dharam Deol.“Perhaps the shift that most surprised me,” he shared, “is the one I’ve seen in both my sons… there’s a sense of maturity that the passing of Papa has brought. Or maybe they’re just more aware of the fragility of life.”Determined to not let history repeat itself, he adds, “We’ve been consciously spending more time together. I’ve even told them that I’m there for them, that I always want to be present.”
The end of a legendary journey
Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89 in Mumbai due to age-related illnesses, including respiratory and heart complications. He breathed his last at home, surrounded by his loved ones.His final film was Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, Simar Bhatia, niece of Akshay Kumar, along with Jaideep Ahlawat and Asrani, who passed away on October 20, 2025, at the age of 84.Dharmendra was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in the 2026 honours list. Announced on January 25, 2026, the award acknowledged his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema spanning over six decades.
