BEAST MODE, UNLEASHED!

BOBBY DEOL FINDS HIMSELF AT THE BEST PHASE OF HIS CAREER AFTER ANIMAL'S UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS. SUMAN SHARMA RECORDS THE ACTOR'S PRIDE AND JOY

- SUMAN SHARMA

Bobby Deol has had a resurrection of sorts with Animal. He has only a 15 minute role in the film and plays the villain and yet, people have taken to his character, Abrar Haque, big time. Even he's hard pressed to explain the popularity of his character. The hype is even bigger than what he saw with his debut film Barsaat (1995). It's like a new generation of fans have rediscovered him and are liking what they're seeing. Thanks to OTT, he got to act in products like Aashram and Love Hostel, where his dark-hued roles got him a lot of plaudits. Now, Animal has cemented that foundation and looks like Bobby is all set to play another big innings. But the Deols have all been like that. You write them off at your own peril...

THANKS TO YOUR ROLE IN ANIMAL, YOU’VE BEEN FLOODED WITH COMPLIMENTS OVER THE INTERNET.

I feel like I am dreaming. It was so humbling and overwhelming. It has been an amazing year for all of us. Bhaiya’s film was a blockbuster. Papa’s film did very well, and now Animal has given me so much love and appreciation. When Papa’s film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani got released, the character that Papa played, if somebody else had played it, the magic wouldn’t have happened. And then, when Sunny Bhaiya’s Gadar 2 got released, I was so happy that after 22 years, Bhaiya’s film has been such a big hit. I did have a gut feeling that Animal would be made well, as Sandeep Reddy Vanga was directing it. But I never thought that it would garner such a huge box office collection. God has really been kind and the love of my fans and the audience has just been extremely amazing.