By Bollywood BTown DeskPublished: August 23, 2026
Bobby Deol is currently enjoying a strong phase in his acting career, but the actor is not completely comfortable with the image that has followed his recent success.
After receiving widespread attention for intense and negative characters in projects such as Aashram andAnimal, Bobby Deol says he is making a conscious effort to explore different kinds of roles.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Jagran Film Festival in New Delhi, the actor opened up about being typecast in villainous characters and explained why he wants to move beyond that image.
Bobby said that when an actor becomes successful in a particular kind of role, the industry often starts offering similar characters. He admitted that he is trying hard to break away from that pattern.
Bobby Deol Opens Up About Being Typecast
According to Bobby Deol, typecasting can naturally happen when an actor delivers a successful performance.When audiences and filmmakers respond strongly to a particular character, actors can start receiving similar offers.
Bobby said that this is something that happens in the film industry, but he does not want his career to become limited to one particular image.
The actor revealed that he has been receiving a lot of villainous roles but is consciously looking for projects that allow him to show another side of his acting.
For Bobby, the issue is not that he dislikes playing negative characters. Instead, he wants more variety in the characters he chooses.
‘I Try Really Hard to Break Out of That’
During his conversation with PTI at the festival, Bobby explained his approach to the situation.
He said that once an actor becomes successful in a particular type of role, similar roles tend to follow.
Bobby acknowledged this industry pattern but said he is making a serious effort to move away from being stereotyped.
This is an important point in Bobby’s current career because his recent success has largely come from characters that are very different from the romantic and action-oriented leading-man roles he played earlier in his career.
‘Bandar’ Gave Bobby a Different Character
Bobby pointed to Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar as an example of the kind of work he wants to explore.
The film gave him a character that was significantly different from the straightforward villain roles audiences had recently associated with him.
In Bandar, Bobby plays an ageing film star who is accused of rape by his former girlfriend. The film was directed by Anurag Kashyap and released in theatres in June 2026.
The role allowed Bobby to explore a more complicated and uncomfortable character instead of simply playing a conventional antagonist.
For an actor trying to demonstrate range, such projects can be particularly important because they challenge the audience’s existing perception.
Bobby Still Enjoys Playing Villains
Interestingly, Bobby Deol is not saying that he wants to completely stop playing negative characters.
He believes there can be different shades even within antagonist roles.
The actor explained that villains can have different personalities, motivations and emotional layers. That variety is one of the reasons he continues to enjoy playing such characters.
This distinction is important. Bobby is not rejecting the success that came from his recent villainous performances. Instead, he wants to make sure that every new antagonist feels different rather than becoming a repetition of something he has already done.
How ‘Aashram’ Changed Bobby Deol’s Career
Bobby Deol’s current image is closely connected to his career resurgence through the web series **Aashram**.
In Prakash Jha’s series, Bobby played Baba Nirala, a self-styled godman whose public image hides a darker side. The role introduced audiences to a much more intense version of the actor.
The success of the series helped Bobby reach a new generation of viewers and opened the door to more challenging characters.
His performance in Aashram was followed by another major turning point in **Animal **.
‘Animal’ Made His Villain Image Even Stronger
In Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2023 film Animal, Bobby played Abrar Haque, a largely silent but highly intimidating antagonist.
Although the character had relatively limited dialogue, Bobby’s screen presence became one of the most discussed aspects of the film.
The success of Animal significantly increased demand for Bobby in intense and negative roles. Since then, he has appeared in several projects where he has taken on antagonist or darker characters.
That success has been a major advantage for Bobby, but it has also contributed to the typecasting he is now trying to overcome.
Bobby Wants More Variety in His Career
Bobby’s comments at the Jagran Film Festival suggest that he is thinking carefully about the direction of his second innings.
Rather than simply accepting every villain role that comes his way, the actor wants to choose projects that offer different shades and allow him to experiment.
This approach could help Bobby build a more varied filmography while continuing to benefit from the popularity he has gained through his recent performances.
For an actor who has already experienced a major career revival, taking creative risks can also help prevent audiences from becoming accustomed to seeing him in only one kind of role.
Comedy Is One Genre Bobby Finds Challenging
Bobby was also asked about genres that make him uncomfortable.
The actor admitted that over-the-top and slapstick comedy are not genres he understands particularly well.
He explained that such films need to be written extremely well, making them a significant creative challenge for him.
His answer shows that Bobby is aware of his strengths and limitations as an actor. Rather than pretending to be comfortable with every genre, he openly acknowledged the areas that he finds difficult.
What Is Next for Bobby Deol?
Bobby is continuing to work on projects across films and streaming platforms.
His next major streaming project is the Prime Video spy drama Teen Kauwe. The series is currently in production and also stars Sidhant Gupta, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Pavail Gulati.
The project is another opportunity for Bobby to explore a different setting and character after his recent run of intense film roles.
His comments suggest that audiences can expect him to continue looking for projects that offer something new rather than simply repeating the formula that made his comeback successful.
Bobby Deol’s Second Innings Is Still Evolving
Bobby Deol’s career is an interesting example of how an actor’s image can change over time.
He began his Bollywood journey as a leading man and became known for romantic, action and family-oriented films. Years later, his career took a dramatic turn when he found renewed success through darker and more complex characters.
Now, after successfully establishing himself as a powerful antagonist, Bobby wants audiences to see that his acting abilities extend beyond villainous roles.
His recent choices indicate that he is willing to experiment, even when that means moving away from the characters that brought him back into the spotlight.
Conclusion
Bobby Deol’s comments at the Jagran Film Festival show that the actor is aware of the impact his recent success has had on the roles being offered to him.
WhileAashram and Animal helped establish a new and highly successful image for Bobby, he does not want to be permanently defined by villainous characters.
The actor is trying to break the stereotype by choosing projects with different stories and characters.
His role in Bandar is one example of that effort, while his upcoming series Teen Kauwe gives him another opportunity to explore a different space.At the same time, Bobby has made it clear that he still enjoys playing antagonists — particularly when those characters have different shades and personalities.
For Bobby Deol, the next chapter of his career appears to be about one thing: proving that his comeback is not limited to playing the villain.
