Bobby Deol gets emotional as he remembers his father Dharmendra: “What’s the point of fame and fortune if there’s no one to share it with?” |

For Bobby Deol, the years of slow work weren’t just professionally testing, they were emotionally complex. The actor recently revealed that what weighed him down the most was not the lack of opportunity, but the quiet pressure of how his father, Dharmendra, could look at him at that stage. In the months following his father’s death, Bobby said his outlook on life changed dramatically. The pursuit of professional milestones has led to something much more personal.

In fact Bobby For Deol, the years when work slowed down were not only professionally testing, but emotionally complex. The actor recently revealed that what weighed him down the most was not the lack of opportunity, but the quiet pressure from his father. Dharmendrayou might see it at that stage.Despite already having a successful career, Bobby admitted that he felt the need to prove that the lull was not the end of his journey. However, like many father-son relationships in Indian homes, much of what they felt for each other remained unspoken.“No matter how much you love him,” Bobby told Esquire India, his voice cracking, “you don’t end up spending enough time with your dad… you know? We get caught up in our lives and one day you wake up and wonder, where did all the time go? How did it go by so fast?”

After the death of the father, the silences are felt louder

Losing Dharmendra in November has left Bobby reflecting on the moments that now feel incomplete. He admitted that there is a sense of regret for the conversations that never happened and the time that has slipped away.“There are all these days,” she said, pausing in mid-thought, “where I wish I could have sat with her more. I wish I had asked more questions.”One memory that sticks with him is of him talking about the poems his father had written, verses shaped by his regret for not spending enough time with his father, Kewal Kishan Singh Deol.“That really moved me,” Bobby said softly. “But I guess this is the cycle of life?”

Redefining success after loss

In the months following his father’s death, Bobby said his outlook on life changed dramatically. The pursuit of professional milestones has led to something much more personal.“Now more than ever I miss being with my sons, my wife and my family. Box office, critics, roles… in the end they don’t matter, man,” he said. “Success is measured by how much time you can afford to spend with those you love. What good is fame and fortune when there is no one to witness it with you?”

Childhood memories that last

Growing up, Bobby recalled seeing very little of his father at home. Dharmendra often did multiple rounds of films, sometimes sleeping on the sets and returning home exhausted.But among these fleeting moments, one memory stands out.When Bobby was only four or five years old, he had a fever that wouldn’t go away. Her father returned home after a long day of filming, visibly drained. However, the aftermath stayed with him forever.“I still remember, he was very tired, I could see it in his eyes… but he picked me up, hugged me and squeezed me until I fell asleep. I don’t know why I missed that moment now…it’s my fondest memory of him. I wish I had a cell phone then, I would record his voice, his face, everything he did for me…”