When Bobby Deol talks about Aryan Khan, there’s a certain warmth in his voice, almost like a protective father speaking about his own child. The actor, who has seen the highs and lows of Bollywood himself, recently opened up about working with Shah Rukh Khan’s son on his debut directorial series, The Ba**ds of Bollywood. And his reflections are as much about fatherhood as they are about the entertainment industry.
Feeling Fatherly Towards Aryan
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Bobby Deol confessed that he felt “fatherly emotions” while being directed by Aryan. As someone who has two sons aspiring to enter the film industry, Bobby could relate to the pressures Aryan faces, perhaps even more intensely, given the shadow of Shah Rukh Khan.
“I felt a lot of fatherly emotions, because I also have kids, and both of them want to come into this industry. It’s not easy, because being from a family that is already established, you are constantly expected to match up. And in Aryan’s case, he has to come out of the shadow of the biggest Indian superstar in the world,” Bobby shared.
The actor drew parallels with his own life, recalling how being Dharmendra’s son and Sunny Deol’s younger brother came with its own baggage. “For me, it was my dad and brother,” he said, almost with a smile of recognition. “Being Shah Rukh Khan’s son is not an easy task. But I think Aryan is fearless. He has this fire that makes him so unique.”
Aryan as a Director: Fearless and Detailed
What stood out most for Bobby was Aryan’s approach on set. Not only did Aryan direct, but he also often enacted scenes himself, demonstrating exactly what he wanted from his actors. That kind of clarity, Bobby believes, is rare in a debut director.
“He would get into the depth of it,” Bobby recalled. “He made everyone do multiple takes, not because he was unsure, but because he knew when we had reached what he was looking for. He had such conviction that it never felt taxing; in fact, it felt inspiring.”
For Bobby, there was also an emotional angle. “When he was directing me, I felt so happy, like my own son was directing me. It was a different kind of joy altogether.”
The Challenge of Legacy
The conversation also touched on something most star kids grapple with: legacy. Being the child of an icon brings both privilege and pressure. Bobby knows it firsthand, and he doesn’t shy away from acknowledging how much tougher it is for someone like Aryan.
The weight of being Shah Rukh Khan’s son is immense. The world already expects brilliance. Every move, every project will inevitably be compared to the towering legacy of SRK. And yet, Bobby believes Aryan is built differently. “He has no fear of that,” Bobby said. “He has this unique spark that sets him apart. That fearlessness is what makes him one of a kind.”
About The Ba**ds of Bollywood
Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, The Ba**ds of Bollywood, is set to release on Netflix on September 18. The series guarantees to offer a raw glimpse into the world of Bollywood, injecting humor with a gritty, meta-narrative.
The film is about Aasman Singh, an outsider attempting to find his niche in the glamorous but ruthless world. Bobby Deol stars as Ajay Talwar, a star who has to balance his professional and personal life with his daughter, Karishma Talwar (played by Sahher Bambba), a young actress who is rising to fame.
From all accounts, Aryan has poured his vision into the project. The show doesn’t just explore stardom but also the messy, ambitious, and sometimes dark world behind the scenes. And with Aryan’s sharp eye for detail, there’s a sense that he’s ready to tell stories on his own terms.
A Passing of the Torch?
Bobby’s worship of Aryan is symbolic, as it were. Bollywood is never stationary; every generation passes the buck to the next. And though nepotism arguments soon taint discussions about star children, Bobby’s own observations make one remember that stardom at birth doesn’t diminish hardships. If anything, it makes them larger than life.
For Aryan Khan, making it big in the limelight not as an actor but as a director is his attempt at sculpting an identity different from that of his father. And if Bobby Deol’s gut feeling is anything to go by, Aryan is going to surprise a lot of people.
As the series approaches release, there is an anticipatory buzz. But beyond the hype, there’s also a heartening story of a young filmmaker unafraid to shoulder expectations and of an experienced actor who saw in him not just Shah Rukh Khan’s son, but a talent with fire in his eyes.