Bobby Deol Birthday: From Flop Phase to Villain in ‘Animal’, His Stunning Comeback

Vijay Singh Deol, known by his screen name Bobby Deol, is an Indian actor who works primarily in Hindi cinema. He has also appeared in Tamil and Telugu films. A member of the Deol family, Bobby is the younger son of veteran actor Dharmendra and the younger brother of actor Sunny Deol.

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Also read: Deepika Padukone Shares Special Gift for Daughter Dua, Wins Hearts Online

Early life and family

The actor was born in Mumbai to a Punjabi Jat family. He has a brother, Sunny Deol, and two sisters, Vijayta and Ajeeta, who live in the United States. His stepmother is actress Hema Malini, with whom he has two half-sisters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. His cousin, Abhay Deol, is also an actor. Bobby Deol studied at Mayo College, Ajmer, and later graduated in commerce from Mithibai College, Mumbai. He married Tanya Ahuja in 1996 and has two sons.

View this post on Instagram

He worked as a child artist in the film "Dharam Veer" (1977). His first film as a lead actor was "Barsaat" (1995), for which he received the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. He subsequently appeared in several successful films, including Gupt (1997), Soldier (1998), Badal (2000), Bichhoo (2000), Ajnabee (2001), and Humraaz (2002). He also received a Filmfare Best Actor nomination for Humraaz.

Also read:Shah Rukh Khan Fan Chases His Rolls-Royce in Mumbai Auto, Video Goes Viral

His career declined thereafter, although multi-starrer films such as Apne (2007), Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011), Race 3 (2018), and Housefull 4 (2019) performed well.

New flight in career after 2020

In the 2020s, Bobby Deol found new recognition on OTT platforms. He played strong roles in web series and films such as Class of '83 (2020), Aashram (2020–present), Love Hostel (2022), and The Bads of Bollywood (2025). His portrayal of the villain in Animal (2023) earned him critical acclaim and a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Also read:Karan Tacker on 16 Years of Fitness: Why Consistency and Natural Training Matter

Acting career

Early success (1995–2002)

Bobby Deol gained immense recognition with the film Barsaat. Subsequent films like Gupt and Soldier catapulted him into the ranks of top actors. At that time, his popularity was considered comparable to that of stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan.

Career decline (2003–2017)

After 2003, Bobby Deol's career continued to struggle with flops. During this period, he appeared in several films, including Bardaasht, Jurm, Chamaku, Heroes, and Players, but none achieved significant success. Bobby Deol himself admitted in an interview that he suffered from depression during this period and briefly withdrew from acting.

OTT and comeback (2018–present)

After Race 3 and Housefull 4, Bobby Deol gained recognition with the web series Ashram, in which he played Baba Nirala. This role proved to be a turning point in his career. His villainous role in the film Animal (2023) re-established him among Bollywood's top actors. He also received the IIFA and Zee Cine Awards for this role.

In 2024, she made her Tamil cinema debut with the Tamil film Kanguva and also entered Telugu films in 2025.

Bobby Deol credits OTT for his career comeback

OTT platforms have given Bobby Deol a new lease on life in his career. Speaking about this, he said, “OTT completely changed my life. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and do something different. Previously, I was never offered groundbreaking or mass-appeal roles. But OTT gave me that opportunity. My first OTT project was Class of '83, which released on Netflix and was produced by Red Chillies. It gave me a chance to prove myself as an actor. People loved my performance, and just a week later, Ashram released—and it felt like a storm. The response was overwhelming. Class of '83 was the beginning, but Ashram changed my entire life.”

Bobby Deol further explained, "When I signed Ashram, I didn't even tell my parents or Sunny Bhaiya. I knew they would question why I was taking on such a role. But I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and do something new and different."

'Animal' and its impact

Despite his limited screen time in the film "Animal" (2023), Bobby Deol left a lasting impression on audiences. Many viewers even said that he outshone Ranbir Kapoor. To this, Bobby humbly responded, "That's not the case at all. If Ranbir hadn't handled the film so beautifully for three hours, my 15 minutes would have been meaningless. He carried the film very well." Bobby Deol's role as a mute villain in "Animal" was small, but so impactful that it left audiences stunned.

Brother Sunny Deol's support

The actor has immense respect for his elder brother Sunny Deol and considers him his biggest support. Recalling an incident from his early career, Bobby said, "I still remember it—while shooting in England, I fell off a horse and broke my leg. Another horse collided with mine, and I lost my balance. I tried to stand up, but fell again. My leg was completely twisted. Sunny Bhaiya was there at the time and he carried me on his shoulders to the hospital."

He continued, "It's been over 30 years since that injury. I still have rods and screws in my leg, and the pain persists. But because I had the surgery at the right time, I can still walk, run, dance, jump, and even perform action scenes. All of this was possible because of my brother. What more could I ask for?"

Net Worth and Earnings

According to media reports, the actor's estimated net worth is approximately ₹66.7 crore (US$1.2 million). His main source of income is films, for which he charges ₹4 to ₹6 crore (US$1.2 million) per project. He received approximately ₹5 crore (US$1.2 million) for the film "Animal." Additionally, the actor earns substantially from brand endorsements, where he charges approximately ₹1 crore (US$1.2 million) per deal.

Upcoming Films

The actor will next be seen in the Tamil film "Jana Nayakan" and the YRF Spy Universe film "Alpha".

Songs

FAQ

Q1. What is the actor's real name?

Answer: Bobby Deol's real name is Vijay Singh Deol

Q2. When and where was the actor born?

Answer: Bobby Deol was born on 27 January 1969 in Mumbai .

Q3. Who is the actor's father?

Answer: Bobby Deol's father is veteran actor Dharmendra .

Q4. Who are the actor's siblings?

Answer: His elder brother is Sunny Deol . He has two sisters, Vijayta and Ajeeta. His half-sisters are Esha Deol and Ahana Deol .

Q5. Who is the actor's wife?

Answer: Bobby Deol's wife is Tanya Ahuja . They married in 1996.