Unprofessionalism, alcoholism and much more, Bobby Deol is back with many revelations

On his disappearance!

When asked what led to his disappearance, he says, "I guess I was too old-fashioned, couldn't keep up with the quickly changing times. In my time, the 90s, everything was slow. People didn't talk about themselves all the time. Your work did the talking. It was rare to see or access a star and that made being one very interesting. There was no social media, no internet, things were generally simpler. Suddenly, there was this transition and I couldn't adapt to it. But now, I want to change that. I really, really want to change that. I didn't even realize when my career started slipping away. You usually don't. Work slows down and before you know it, you are sitting at home more than hanging out on film sets. I used to ask myself: What's wrong with you, Bobby? Why aren't you getting work? Add to it the speculations and stories people spin around you."

On his unprofessionalism!

When asked about the stories that caused a lasting damage, he says, "There were stories about my unprofessionalism. People thought I am a rich spoilt brat who was happy with life and who didn't want to work. They thought I am extremely lazy. I don't know why people thought that. I have never delayed a film in my life. Ask my producers, I was always on time. But it's easy to believe a negative story and the faster it travels, fiction turns into fact and it's an endless cycle."

When his director-producer friends didn’t help him!

When asked whether he ever chased his director-producer friends to cast him in films, he says, "I did that. It didn't help. I spoke to all my director-producer friends. I told them: give me a good role, it doesn't have to be the lead. And they're like, "Haan, pukka, pukka" and "Arrey, sure. Let's do something." But it was all lip-service and I don't even blame them. I can't push them to cast me. I've met them and I'll meet them again and ask them again for work. I cannot sit at home. All these years I have just sat at home. What'll keep me busy? There's no work."

On almost being an alcoholic!

"There was a particular phase where I turned to the bottle and was on the verge of becoming a total alcoholic. My wife, Tanya, who is the most beautiful person in the whole world, a source of constant support, told me, "What're you doing? This isn't going to help. Why are you being so self-destructive?" And I am like, I was looking after myself for so long, kya hua? Did the producers and directors chase me? No. And then there was an awakening. I was like, F**k this shit. I am not going to sulk in self-pity. Not working makes you ill, sad, depressed. It ages you. I am going to bounce back no matter what."

How he missed ‘Jab We Met’!

Alia Bhatt is amazing. So are the rest of them. But I still feel there's something missing in them. I wanted to watch Alia's 'Highway' but I couldn't get myself to. I was to do it. I was also to do 'Jab We Met'. Back then, it was titled 'Geet'. I had seen 'Socha Na Tha' and instantly reached out to Imtiaz saying that he's an incredible storyteller with a terrific future. I told him that I wanted to work with him and he had the script of (what is now) 'Jab We Met' ready. He was looking for financiers. There was a studio called Shri Ashtavinayak who wanted to sign me. I told them that let's sign Imtiaz. He has a script ready. And let's talk to Kareena Kapoor (Bobby had worked with Bebo in 'Ajnabee'). The producers were like, oh no, that guy will make an expensive film. Kareena, on the other hand, didn't even want to meet Imtiaz. I took them to Preity (his close friend and 'Soldier' co-star). She agreed but said she can do it only after 6 months. So we were stuck. Days passed. And suddenly I read that Ashtavinayak has signed Imtiaz for 'Jab We Met' and Kareena is doing the film! And she had gotten her then boyfriend, Shahid Kapoor to act opposite her. I was like, wow. Quite an industry. We were also to do 'Highway' together but he again did his own thing. But I have no hard feelings against him. He is a great director and doing so well. We're still friends. But I always tell him: 'Imtiaz, I won't watch any of your films until you make one with me. That'll be your best film."