Bobby Deol delivered one of the most talked-about performances of his career in 'Animal'. Though he appeared only briefly, his portrayal of Abrar Haque left a strong impact on audiences.
Bobby Deol on How He Landed the Role in 'Animal'
In a recent episode of Shekhar Suman's talk show, Bobby opened up about how he landed the part. He also recalled his father Dharmendra's reaction and the anxiety he faced while waiting to begin shooting.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Phone Call That Changed Everything
Bobby said he was surprised when Sandeep Reddy Vanga contacted him directly for the film. “When I got a call from Sandeep Reddy Vanga, he said, 'Your expression in this photograph, I want you because I like this expression.'” The actor revealed that the director had noticed a picture of him from the Celebrity Cricket League and felt that his expression perfectly matched the character he had in mind.
Bobby Deol's Photo from Celebrity Cricket League
Bobby had previously shared more details about their first meeting in a chat with Humans of Bombay. He admitted that he was initially unsure whether the message was genuinely from the filmmaker. “I got a message from him. He introduced himself and told me he wanted to meet me for a film. I thought, 'Is it really him?' I called and arranged the meeting. He showed me a photo of myself from when I participated in the Celebrity Cricket League and said, 'I want to cast you because I love this expression of yours.'” That single photograph became the starting point for one of the most memorable roles of his career.
Dharmendra's Proud Reaction
After the film's release, Bobby's father was thrilled by the response to his performance. “When 'Animal' came out, dad asked me, 'Are you the villain?' I reacted by saying 'Yes'. I said, 'Dad, it's a good role.' Dad also used to say, 'You have become Lord Bobby.'”
Bobby Deol on Taking on a Mute Character
Bobby said he hesitated when he learned that Abrar Haque would not speak in the film. “I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone. When Sandeep told me that my character would be mute, I thought, 'But my voice is my strength,' yet I still decided to go for it.” He later learned sign language to prepare for the part and embraced the challenge. The actor also revealed that he had to wait a year and a half before his portions were filmed. During that time, he often worried about being replaced.
“I waited 1.5 years to shoot the film. The film is 3.5 hours long, so they were shooting with Ranbir for a long time, and during that period, I kept thinking, 'Are they going to change their mind? Will they suddenly say they don't need me?' Those thoughts crossed my mind, but Sandeep Reddy is a sweetheart.”
Bobby was last seen in 'Daaku Maharaaj' alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna.
