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Exclusive: Rajveer Deol on taking his father Sunny Deol and grandfather Dharmendra’s legacy forward

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Sunny Deol’s younger son Rajveer Deol is making his debut in Dono, directed by Sooraj Barjatya’s son Avnish and co-starring Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. Going by the trailer, they play two strangers who meet at a destination wedding and fall in love. So it has all the ingredients of a Rajshri Productions film, with a modern twist. Rajveer knows he’s Dharmendra’s grandson and Sunny Deol’s son. Their enduring legacy isn’t lost on him. He’s confident that one day, he’ll be able to carve his own. The youngster is refreshingly candid and looks like someone who has got both feet firmly planted on ground. He opens up about his fears and desires in a straight-from-the-heart interview.

Dono is about love and relationships. What’s your definition of love?

Love is someone who supports you through thick or thin, no matter what. No matter how bad or good it’s going, that person will stand by you through the toughest of times. Whoever you are committed to should be loyal and supportive and both of you should be like friends at the same time.

Director Avnish Barjatya, Paloma and you… All three of you are making your debut with this film; did it make it easier?

Yes, it did. All of us are in the same boat. So all of us felt we could explore more than having someone who probably might control us in a certain way. So we could experiment quite a bit. Avnish is a perfectionist. He was so particular about this character that he’s given me to play. I remember the first time when I sat with him and we did workshops, he said, “In this room, I’ll be your biggest critic and outside, I’ll be your biggest supporter.” He’ll call me up and say you can do this better. And I’m always open to hearing it. He’s always rooted for me.

What was your interaction with producer Sooraj Barjatya?

He was a calming presence. So calm and relaxing when you come on set. Whatever anxiety I had, I used to talk to him and it would just evaporate. And he would give nice advice – “Just focus on your work. Make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Make it; it’s fine. We can always do another take. It’s fine that we don’t get stressed out.”

How would you define your personality?

I am an introvert. People see us as characters on screen, but they forget we’re just like them. I can be an introvert in real life and play a loud extrovert on camera because that is the job of an actor.

When did you realise that you wanted to become an actor?

I wanted to join the army and I also fell in love with video games. So I wanted to do something in the gaming industry. And I played a lot of basketball at the state level, so I wanted to become a basketball player. But soon, these things went out of my mind and becoming an actor became my prime focus.

What was the reaction of your family when you told them about your decision?

My parents never wanted me to become an actor. They wanted me to study and do something else. This industry is so fickle. You’re happy one minute and miserable the next. They thought that it’s such an unpredictable line and I would be much better out of it.

What advice was given to you by your father?

He said don’t be in a hurry to be a star; become an actor first and that is what I want to do. He added that there are lots of ups and downs in an actor’s life, so you should take either success or failure too seriously and run yourself down. Always be humble, stay true to yourself and don’t try to emulate what your dad or grandfather did. He has taught me the value of dedication and determination. He has the strongest back ever; he carries his whole world on his back.

Tell us about your equation with your father.

Dad was strict growing up. I was terrified of him. He’s gotten much more relaxed now. But we were always close. He didn’t want us to be spoiled. I don’t know about star kids, but whatever the stereotype of star kids is, he didn’t want us to behave like that. So he was strict with us.

Grandparents share a special relationship with their grandchildren. So tell us about your bonding with Dharmendra.

He used to pamper me, giving me literally anything I asked him. I was close to him growing up. And so was my brother.

What have you learnt from your father and grandfather?

I’ve understood that the main thing is the craft of acting, that stardom is something I should not really pay attention to. And if it comes, it comes. It’s not something you chase.

Dharmendra is still a fan favourite.

And I love that. It feels good just to see him connect with fans. He puts himself out there completely and he responds to people he interacts with.

Have you grown up watching your father’s or grandfather’s films?

I’ve watched a lot of movies starring my father, grandfather and even my uncle, Bobby Deol. But those weren’t the only movies I’ve watched. I’ve seen a lot of world cinema and regional cinema as well. I love Irrfan Khan’s work. I like what Vicky Kaushal is doing currently. I have a long list that keeps changing.

What are your favourite Sunny and Bobby Deol films?

For my dad, I would say Arjun. I really liked him in it. I really liked Bobby Chacha’s stuff on the OTT. I love seeing him really transform from the romantic chocolate boy to this thrilling role and it’s brilliant that he’s able to pivot in such a way.

Who has been your role model?

I would say probably dad—the type of person he is and everything. I just wanted to be a good human being like him.

Growing up, were your friends scared of your father because of his reputation for having a dhai kilo ka haath?

I never boasted about the fact that I am the son of Sunny Deol. I didn’t like people knowing who I was because then people started looking at you differently. When I used to play basketball, it became a hindrance. When people came to know I was Sunny’s son, they used to be extra aggressive on the court to test how tough I’m because of my dad’s reputation as a he-man. It used to create a weird situation.

What qualities do you have similar to those of your father and which do you wish you had?

I’m shy like him. I do not like dancing like him. I like my space, just like him. I am a little short-tempered and I don’t like being the centre of attention, just like him. I wish I had his fierceness. The way he commands authority, he can make a room quiet in three seconds.

Do you feel somewhere that people will compare you with your father?

I know his shadow is so big and it’s hard for me to get out of it. So I try not to think about it too much. I feel that thinking about it will just send me down a negative path. So I just keep quiet and I just focus on my work. And hopefully, one day, I’ll create my own shadow.

What are your thoughts on nepotism?

It’s in all professions. It’s not as easy as people think. We do have advantages. I easily get to meet directors. But after that, they might not even call me again. Everyone’s looking for a good, talented actor who can sell a movie. They have such a large talent pool to choose from and will not necessarily bet on a star kid.

An actor’s life is full of rejections and criticisms.

Yes, I am ready for that. I think my biggest critic is myself. So I don’t really try to think about it too much. I know what I want to do and I know what I’m capable of. As I said earlier, right now my only aim is to get recognised as an actor. If I’m able to do that, the rest will follow.

Did you ever think that Gadar 2 would become such a big hit?

Its record-breaking success shocked all of us. We expected Gadar 2 to do decent business, but it surpassed all expectations. And I was so happy for my dad because I’ve only seen him working. I don’t think my dad ever took a day off. And finally, I saw him relaxed and smiling.

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Suman Sharma

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Exclusive: Rajveer Deol on taking his father Sunny Deol and grandfather Dharmendra’s legacy forward