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Race 3 Has Helped Bobby Deol Find Himself Again. Suman Sharma Chats With The Actor, Who’s On A Trip Of Self-discovery

His good looks, long locks and onscreen presence made him the poster boy of romantic thrillers at one point of time. Bright things were predicted for him. Some said he was future superstar material. But somehow, Bobby Deol couldn’t tap into the hype. His films started flopping. Naturally, he got bogged down by depression. Rumour has it that he tried to make alcohol his lifeline but it pushed him further into darkness. He was written off but miraculously, he has bounced back into the limelight once more. He looks incredibly fit for a 50- year- old. More muscular than he ever was. More optimistic about life. More relaxed. It’s a brand-new Bobby and a tiny bit of transformation should be credited to Salman Khan, who gave the actor a new lease of life with Race 3. Presenting excerpts from a heart-to-heart conversation with the handsome hunk, who has vowed to make good of the new opportunities...

YOU’RE LOOKING FIT AND FAB?

(Smiles) Inspiration begins at home. But I got lost somewhere in between. I didn’t realise that my biggest inspiration was at home, in my father (Dharmendra). He’s always been fitness conscious. As kids, we’d be woken up at 5 am. Then we’d play badminton for an hour. I’ve always been inclined towards sports thanks to my dad and brother (Sunny Deol). But somewhere… I forgot to take care of myself. Eventually, you understand the importance of appearing good. An actor must be attractive. I began to look after my health. Then I came across Salman (Khan), who inspired me to enhance my fitness levels.

YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD ‘LOST’ YOURSELF SOMEWHERE. WHAT HAPPENED?