It's been a long wait for Bobby Deol. His second release, Gupt, follows his debut film, Barsaat, by almost two years. The youngest of the Deols is no more the unsure, insecure actor who walked into the limelight. His marriage does not seem to have decreased his fan following. Bobby's third film, ...Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, opposite Aishwarya Rai, will follow on the heels of Gupt, and with other prestigious films under his belt, he has reasons to be confident and relaxed.

It's almost two years since Barsaat and Bobby Deol is ready to storm the screen again. And unlike his much-hyped debut film, his second film, Gupt, has been shrouded in secrecy. Few know what the film is all about and even fewer have been allowed onto the sets. Even Bobby refuses to unravel the mystery and when asked about the film only says enigmatically, "It's a murder mystery. I'm accused of a crime I didn't commit and the only way I can get off is to find the real culprit." And that is what he does through 18 reels taking time off in between to shake a leg with Manisha Koirala and Kajol. Thrills, spills and chills... like any Rajiv Rai film, Gupt has all this and more.

"Rajiv is a very different kind of a director, someone whose work I really appreciate, and it was a great experience working with him. Gupt is only my second film and Barsaat was a home production. When I started work on Rajiv's film I had no idea how the industry functioned despite being closely associated with it all these years because of dad and Sunny. I even felt intimidated by everyone. But Rajiv made sure I was comfortable and not at all apprehensive. He's a real nice guy and we got really close during Gupt. I had a lot of fun," Bobby asserts.

Well, he may have enjoyed himself but the same could not be said for Rajiv, whose film was delayed by almost a year on account of a fracture sustained by Bobby during one of the action scenes of Barsaat. Bobby reveals that Rajiv came all the way to London to see him and when he had to be operated on, Rajiv made sure that Bobby had a good doctor. The director even stayed till the operation was over. "And it wasn't because he was worried his film would be delayed but because he really cared and wanted me to be fine. He treats me like a younger brother," Bobby says emotionally. The accident put Bobby out of action for several weeks and when he returned to the studios, he confesses, it was painful doing a vigorous song-and-dance sequence and Gupt had plenty of those. "But Rajiv never complained. In fact, whenever I had to do any stunts everyone was extra careful and caring," he maintains.

Maybe Rajiv didn't complain but Bobby's accident almost resulted in a split between Sohail Maklai and Rahul Rawail, the producer and director of Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. "What split are you talking about?" Bobby quirks an enquiring eyebrow. "As far as I know Sohail and Rahul haven't had any difference of opinion. Aur Pyar Ho Gaya has been progressing quite smoothly. It was launched last July and is releasing this August. That's fast work for any Hindi film."

Did the film make such good progress because it had a tyrant at the helm who would keep his cast and crew up at all hours? "Is your tyrant by any chance Rahul Rawail?" Bobby asks. When you nod, his expression becomes even more incredulous. "Rahul is no tyrant, hey, he's not even very strict," Bobby defends his director. "He's just very sincere and hates any disruptions and distractions when he's working. It was great working with him."

And it must have been equally great wooing the former Miss World. "I enjoyed working with Aishwarya Rai. She is not bad at all considering that Aur Pyar Ho Gaya was her first Hindi film. In fact, I'd say she's very good," Bobby says enthusiastically, if a trifle diplomatically.

Did he ever feel envious because Ash would be the centre of attention everywhere they went? "Never!" he exclaims. "Why should I? And Ash never threw her weight around. She's very down-to-earth despite her celebrity status."

Besides Gupt and Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, Bobby has two other films, Abbas-Mustan's thriller, Soldier, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's sweet love story, Kareeb. Both are fast nearing completion. The three directors, he insists, have very different styles of working. "Vinod Chopra would make us rehearse the shots a day before they were to be picturised and then once again before the final take. Abbas-Mustan had everything worked out when they arrived on the sets, always dressed in white. They discuss every scene at length with everyone. The brothers are like two people with one mind. If one of them stops in mid-sentence the other completes it without a pause. They never shout at each other or at anyone else. They are very sweet, organised and know exactly what they want. Shots are canned in quick succession," Bobby informs. Vinod, Bobby goes on to reveal, lives in a world inhibited by people who are associated with his film. If any outsider intrudes into his world he doesn't like it. In fact, according to Bobby, Vinod doesn't even like people dropping in on his sets unless they are working with him. "He hates distractions. He makes a film from the heart and is completely involved. Vinod's films are all well-made irrespective of whether the film is a hit or a flop," Bobby observes.

Talking of flops, none of Bobby's directors, with the exception of Rajiv Rai whose Mohra was a box-office winner two years ago, have had any successes lately. Vinod Chopra's 1942 A Love Story couldn't live up to the sky-high expectations it raised. Rahul Rawail's Anjaam also didn't have a particularly memorable run at the box-office. Even Abbas-Mustan's Daraar didn't make much of an impact at the cash counters. Considering that Bobby's projects are carefully screened, how did he land up with three not-very-saleable-at-the-moment directors? Their recent run must be giving him sleepless nights. "No, it doesn't bother me. Just because their last films haven't done too well doesn't mean that these three are bad directors. Maybe the script wasn't well written or the performances weren't upto the mark. There are so many reasons for a film's failure. I can assert that all the directors I'm working with today are the best directors in the country. With a proper script they can do wonders. That's why I insist on a complete script before I start shooting. And all these makers have fabulous scripts," he says with complete confidence.

Interestingly, in all the four films Bobby is doing he holds centrestage. The only film in which Bobby shares the footage with another actor is London. Is Bobby insecure about working in two-hero projects? "I have no problems if my role is substantial," he says calmly. However, as yet, we guess, no one has been able to convince him that the two hero projects they are approaching him with, will give him ample opportunity to display his histrionics and prevent him from being overshadowed by the other actor. Because he hasn't accepted any of them, except Gurinder Kaur's London, and it is obvious that co-star and big brother Sunny won't play dirty. The Gurinder Kaur-directed love triangle took off on July 1 and will be wrapped up by September 1 in a start-to-finish schedule in Buckingham city. The film's heroine is Karisma Kapoor who was the Deols' first choice for Barsaat. But after many frustrating months of waiting, Karisma had signed out of the contract and accepted Prem Qaidi. Obviously, the Deols don't hold any grudges against the blue-eyed Kapoor miss? "Why should we?" asks Bobby. "I think she did the right thing by opting out of Barsaat. See where she is today. We wouldn't be petty enough to hold Barsaat against her. She suited the role in London and so we took her. Simple."

Does Bobby, in retrospect, regret not following in Karisma's footsteps? He patiently waited while Shekhar Kapur took days to approve a shot and then after a difference of opinion over the script, opted out of the film mid-way to concentrate on Bandit Queen. His successor, Rajkumar Santoshi, then made several changes in the script of Barsaat and took his own time finishing the film. Which, despite all the hype, didn't turn out to be the kind of hit they expected it would be. "Why should I have any regrets? The masses have accepted me, today I get the best of offers and I'm working with the people I want to. So there's no reason to be disappointed. The purpose of launching me was served. Anyway once the film went on the floors, Rajji shot it at breakneck speed and within a year and a half the film was ready. It didn't take five years. People just like to exaggerate and ridicule others," Bobby says with a dark frown.

Bobby remembers that before the release of Barsaat a journalist had approached him and started praising him to the skies. He insisted Bobby would definitely go places and had a very bright future. After listening to him for a while Bobby asked him, "Have you seen the film? How can you say that it will be a hit? What if it flops? Will you be interested in interviewing me then?" The journalist was stumped by the barrage of unexpected questions from junior Deol. After minutes of stunned silence he asked Bobby how he could have any doubts about his future. After all, he was the brother of a National Award winner, and the son of Dharmendra who even after three decades was still going strong. "But that doesn't guarantee that I will be as successful as they are," Bobby argued.

Recollecting this incident Bobby says, "I have a very realistic approach towards life. I don't like to talk big. I always want to keep a low profile. It is better that way. Hype doesn't always work."

Was it because his father and bhaiyya were successful actors that Bobby decided to enter the industry? "No, the career wasn't forced on me. It was my decision entirely and it was only when I announced it that everyone in my family confessed that they'd been expecting it for a very long time," he says with a grin.

Bobby's first brush with film acting was when he was only seven years old. He played Dharam junior in Manmohan Desai's Dharam Veer. And, he confesses, at that time he was very confident and not at all unnerved by all the people around him. "I was very enthusiastic and thrilled to be selected for the role. I guess a child has no inhibitions," he shrugs.

However, as he grew older he became very inhibited and before he could face the camera for Barsaat he had to do a crash course in acting at Roshan Taneja's acting school. But, he admits, the course wasn't of much use and he opted out midway. "I feel it is better for an aspiring actor to attend a theatre workshop or join some theatre group. They are more beneficial than an acting school. Theatre is a valuable learning experience but unless you have it in you you can't make it as an actor," he maintains.

Bobby admits he hasn't seen Barsaat in a long time. But, he agrees, that if he were to see the film today he would find a lot of faults with his performance. Today if he were to be offered Barsaat he asserts he'd do a better job because he is now more experienced and knows what he is capable of. He's also more confident.

While elder brother Sunny has decided not to do a film with Rajkumar Santoshi, Bobby has no such reservations about the director. "I will do a film with him, provided the script is good," he says firmly. "I have no differences with him. I have learnt a lot from him and love all his films. He is a very good director not only for newcomers but also for seasoned actors."

At the moment though, Rajkumar Santoshi is busy with China Gate while Bobby is involved with London, being directed by Gurinder Kaur, a lady few Indians have heard of. Apparently, the director had approached Sunny with a script which he loved. It had a bit of everything...comedy, drama, music, action and emotions. After that he saw the only film she had made, Bhaji On The Beach, and was again very impressed. That was how London was finalised with Gurinder at the helm. Bobby and Sunny are playing brothers in the film and, Bobby asserts, both have equally powerful roles. "In fact, every character in the film has a well-defined role. And for the first time no one will be dubbing his lines. The sounds and dialogue will be recorded live," says an excited Deol junior. This is the first time any of the Deols are speaking about London. Why are they always so secretive about their projects? No one is allowed on the sets of his films and their stories are a well-kept secret. "I like to concentrate on my work and when you have guests you get distracted," he points out. "I think no one other than the cast and the crew should be allowed on any sets if work is to carry on smoothly." Point noted.

Work on London has started in London but a film which was planned with the three Deols—Bobby, Sunny and papa Dharam— is still only a dream project. "We will be doing a film with papa soon... definitely," Bobby assures.

And why is no one talking about Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, R. Mohan's new film launched recently in the South with director Thampi? If the buzz is to be believed, Thampi has been replaced with Joy Augustine who directed Tere Mere Sapne. "Yes, Joy is directing R. Mohan's film but it's not the same film Thampi was to do. As far as Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai is concerned, we started shooting for it only to realise that the script wasn't too good. They are reworking on it and once it's ready we'll start shooting again," he promises.

Doesn't Bobby think that the policy of doing one film at a time is detrimental to his career? Earlier Sunny too had one release per year and if it flopped he was written off till he `arrived' again. But recently he has had four films in quick succession and since three were major hits, he's being hailed as the new No. 1. Shouldn't Bobby also change his policy? "My brother is still very selective about the films he takes on and the four films you're talking about weren't started simultaneously. Some were delayed and some finished on schedule. It just happened that they came together," he argues. Bobby points out that this year he also has two films — Gupt and Aur Pyar Ho Gaya releasing within a month of each other but that was because Gupt was delayed. He insists he's going to stick to his few-films-at-a-time policy. "I don't want to see my face on the telly every day, the whole day. Over-exposure is injurious to your career," he reminds you. However, he admits that his strategy of doing one film at a time won't work in India because here people are working round-the-clock intent on making hay while the sun shines. "There is no discipline, no system. Films just go on endlessly. If people were paid properly and things done more systematically this wouldn't happen. But what's the use of complaining when I can't change the system," he sighs.

He can change one thing though — his price. If he can cut down on his films his films would become more economically viable, wouldn't he agree? "I'm not asking for a very high price. But if people are willing to pay me well why should I refuse?" Bobby smiles innocently.

Bobby's changed a lot from the shy, soft-spoken, slightly insecure boy who nervously waited for Barsaat to release. He's more confident now, more in control. Isn't it time he started taking his career decisions himself instead of relying completely on his papa and his bhaiyya? "Bhaiyya only sees to it that the producer and the director are good and capable. I'm the one who scrutinises the script. If I don't like it, I don't do it," he argues and then adds, "Anyway what's wrong in relying on my family. Doesn't everyone, when they have to take a momentous decision? My family members have so many years of experience. They know what's best for me."

The one family member who's not very involved with his career is his wife Tania. She's never seen on his sets when he's shooting in the city, though she does accompany him on long outdoors. Not being from the industry she is not too familiar with its ways but Bobby's not complaining. "My mother and bhabhi are also not from the industry, yet that doesn't seem to have affected papa's or bhaiyya's career. Tania's very understanding and rarely gets irritated when fans throw themselves at me. Though at times you do want a little privacy. I guess, this is one professional hazard we have to live with," he sighs.

Wasn't he worried he'd lose his starry-eyed female admirers when he decided to tie the knot with Tania? "No actor is a craze all his life. The initial excitement wears off when another actor catches the eye, irrespective of whether he's married or not. Sure, I want to keep my fan following but I can't do that by remaining single and available. It's my work which will keep them happy and rooting for me," Bobby reasons.

Would Tania have been happier if he were an industrialist like her dad? "She knew I was an actor when she married me so wanting me to be someone else won't help," he says with a twinkle. Okay, does she watch films? "Sure." Who's her favourite actor? "Bobby Deol. But she likes Sunny Deol too." 

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