Actor Bobby Deol has opened up about the emotional impact of losing his father Dharmendra, admitting he regrets not spending more time with him. In an interview with Esquire India, Bobby spoke about how
the loss has reshaped his priorities, both as an actor and as a father.
‘I wish I had sat with him more’
Bobby revealed that the grief has stayed with him in quiet, everyday moments, often making him rethink the value of time spent with loved ones.
“There are all these days where I wish I had sat with him more. I wish I had asked him more questions… Now more than ever, I’m mindful of being with my sons, my wife and my family. The box office, the reviews, the roles… eventually they don’t matter, man. Success is measured in how much time you can afford to spend with the ones you love. What’s the point of fame and wealth when there’s no one to witness it with you? You know, I keep watching his reels on Instagram. He was so candid… so full of warmth. Sometimes it feels like he’s talking directly to me.”
The actor said the loss has changed how he views success, placing family above career milestones.
A shift within the family
Bobby also spoke about how Dharmendra’s passing has affected his children, with a visible change in how they look at life. He shared that his sons now seem more aware of how fragile life can be, and as a family, they are making a conscious effort to spend more time together.
The actor added that the difficult phase has unexpectedly brought him closer to his half-sisters, Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. “I feel we’re all dealing with it in our own ways. Sometimes you misunderstand each other because you’re hurting… everyone feels their pain is more than the other’s. But you give it time. Let it heal… Loss has its own way of bringing a family closer,” he added.
Dharmendra’s final film and legacy
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 last year at his residence in Mumbai at the age of 89. He had recently been discharged from Breach Candy Hospital following a health scare and was recovering at home. The veteran actor was last seen in Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, which released in theatres on January 1 and received strong praise.
