The Lord Of Reinvention

There's a lot that goes into personal transformation, and few know it better than actor Bobby Deol. In a living room conversation with BAYAR JAIN, the man of the hour gets candid about his journey to success.

A few weeks ago, while hosting a girls' night, blasting '90s music in the speakers, the living room conversation turned to Bobby Deol. We reminisced about his journey in Bollywood-from playing a heartthrob to morally ambiguous characters and had spirited discussions about his versatility.

Cut to the present, I land in Mumbai for a cover shoot with Deol. The temperature is soaring. I look over to my party-loving colleague, who tells me of her upcoming Sri Lankan sojourn and about the wild days in Goa last month. The crew recounts their recent gatherings at some of the city's poshest nightclubs. As for me, my party is right here on set in the company of cover star Bobby Deol, and the limited-edition couch and other artistic merchandise brought to life by Delicious Design Project by Glenmorangie and designers Shivan & Narresh.

The set blurs the walls between the outdoors and the living room with its whimsical and playful elements. I spot an orange giraffe in the corner, the brand mascot of Glenmorangie; the citrus fruits hanging from the ceiling create a surreal ambience; and so do the larger-than-life flowers. I marvel at the power of imagination, which is precisely the theme of the shoot-to be able to travel while sitting in your living room.

I run into our cover star, or 'Lord Bobby', as he is endearingly called by his fans nowadays. "It started as a joke," says Deol about the origin of the moniker. "But I worked hard to change that perspective. Eventually [the nickname] gave me strength. It's strange, but it makes me feel appreciated and loved that means the most to me," he says with a smile.

Irrespective, he remains a versatile actor switching between the roles of hero and villain with ease. Much like the luxury partners for the shoot, the actor exudes a playful personality but with layers of complexity.