Never realised people were competing with me, says Bobby Deol

Bobby Deol is returning to Bollywood with Race 3. He is likely to play a negative character in the film.

Bobby Deol says a lack of ambition and a “normal” approach about his status as a star worked against him but he is fully invested in his career now. The 49-year-old actor, who made his debut opposite Twinkle Khanna in the 1995 blockbuster Barsaat, says had he paid more attention, it would have helped him focus on his work in the industry.

He delivered hits such as Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Soldier, Ajnabee, Humraaz among others. Son of Dharmendra and brother of Sunny Deol, Bobby was the blue-eyed boy in the 1990s. “I wish I knew that I had reached the level up with two-three movies but I never realised that. I never understood that I had reached a certain level of stardom. I was very normal about it. I wish I had noticed it. Maybe that would have made me focus about not losing it. I should have been more attentive towards it,” said Bobby.

He says he never cared much about competition with his colleagues in the industry and admits losing out on work primarily because of his approach. “I never thought people were competing with me. I was like everybody deserves work and why should I come in their way. But things had changed, everybody was going to the producers’ office to get work, which could have been mine. I did not realise that and slowly started losing. I wish I had realised then. I wish I had a better physique but it is never too late,” he said.

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After staying away from the silver screen for about four years, Bobby is back with Salman Khan-fronted Race 3 and the actor says he hopes the action thriller will lead to better opportunities.

He has also been signed on for Housefull 4, besides another unnamed project with Salman. “For someone who is starving for work, what better can happen in his life than a big franchise film. Now the negativity will not take away my desire to work. Salman is a big star and still he has a fire, Anil (Kapoor) has tremendous energy. My dad is 82 years old and he wants to work everyday of his life, even my brother,” he says.

“I don’t know why I did not take that positiveness from them.”

Directed by Remo D’Souza, Race 3 is set to release on June 15.