Bobby Deol's Journey From Alcoholism To 'The Ba***ds Of Bollywood Success', 'My Family Feared Me'

Bobby Deol is currently leading the headlines due to his stellar performance in the Netflix series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, directed by Aryan Khan. He plays the role of superstar 'Ajay Talvar' in the series, who attempts to sabotage his illegitimate son's career to facilitate a smooth entry for his daughter into the industry. Following the success of the show and his last Bollywood movie, Animal, Bobby recently opened up about his struggles with an inferiority complex during a career slump. He also shared how he drove himself to alcoholism to cope with the low phase and how he came out of it.

Bobby Deol's account of his difficult phase as an alcoholic

In an appearance on entrepreneur Raj Shamani's podcast, Bobby Deol spoke candidly about his battle with alcoholism during a difficult period in his career, revealing that his family was afraid of his unpredictable behaviour. The 56-year-old recounted overhearing his son say to his wife, "You go out to work every day, but Papa only sits at home." This moment deeply affected him and spurred him to change his life. He began reflecting on what kind of father he was becoming, so that his own child would detest his company.

Bobby described the fear and sadness he saw in his family's eyes whenever he drank. He admitted that alcohol brought out an angry and dark side of him that his wife and children had to endure. He even stopped caring about how he looked, which is an unexpected condition for an actor or anyone in the entertainment industry. Once a heartthrob of Bollywood, Bobby recalled that he was more appreciated for his looks than his acting. And it was very strange to him how he stopped looking at the mirror and caring about his looks, all because of alcoholism. Talking about that phase, he said:

"I'm working for my family. And if I see fear and sadness in their eyes...It's not like I used to drink every day, but whenever I would, they would fear me. They just didn't know how I would be. It's horrible."

Bobby Deol called alcohol 'more addictive than dr*gs'

Talking about the potential downsides of alcohol, Bobby called it a bad addiction. Based on his personal experience with alcoholism, the Indian actor stated that alcohol was even more addictive than dr*gs. As he got into that kind of life, he finally understood that he had underestimated the hold alcohol can have on somebody. Bobby's comments highlight the powerful and devastating nature of alcohol addiction. The Ba***ds of Bollywood actor shared that he quit drinking over a year ago after overcoming his addiction. His family's fear and the realisation of his downward spiral were key motivators for him to quit alcohol. Bobby mentioned:

"Alcohol is the biggest addiction; it's more addictive than actual drugs. It messes with your brains like narcotics."

Bobby Deol's alcoholism was resultant of his low career phase and family struggles

After an initial string of hits, Bobby Deol's career stalled in the mid-2000s, resulting in a prolonged period of inactivity. He confessed that he turned to alcohol as a crutch and 'kept blaming the world' for his failures, rather than reflecting on his own shortcomings. Bobby also noted that the family was under financial pressure during this time, with his father, Dharmendra, and brother, Sunny Deol, also experiencing professional setbacks.

Lastly, Bobby confessed that he has been sober for over a year and credits his family, particularly a comment from his son, for his decision to quit drinking. He also shared how his comeback with projects like Animal and The Ba***ds of Bollywood has helped him overcome self-doubt and lead a better and disciplined life. Now, he is once again focusing on his work and gaining acclaim for his roles. He will next be seen in Bandar, Alpha, Welcome to the Jungle and Jana Nayagan.

What are your thoughts on Bobby Deol's comeback from alcoholism to stardom with Animal and The Ba***ds Of Bollywood? Let us know.

Also Read: Vivek Oberoi Recalls Losing His Childhood Sweetheart To Blood Cancer, 'We Thought Of Having Kids..'

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