Bobby Deol’s impressive comeback as the antagonist Abrar Haque in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, alongside Ranbir Kapoor, received immense praise, even though his role was relatively brief. Despite some fans saying he overshadowed Ranbir’s performance, Bobby’s recent interview shows his humility and admiration for his co-star’s talent.
On being questioned about the claims, Bobby responded to an entertainment portal reporter, “Aisa kuchh nahi hai. Agar Ranbir ko 3 ghante sambhaalne the, mujhe sirf 15 minutes sambhaalne the. Agar Ranbir woh 3 ghante nahi sambhaal paata toh mere 15 minutes ka koi value nahi hota (It’s nothing like that. Ranbir had to carry the film for three hours, while I only had to manage 15 minutes. If Ranbir hadn’t handled those three hours well, then my 15 minutes wouldn’t have held any value).” He credited the huge impact of his character’s short appearance to Ranbir’s intensity, further stating, “It happened because of how Ranbir performed his character. If he hadn’t done it right, my entry wouldn’t have meant anything.”
Bobby also talked about the factors that contributed to the popularity of Animal. He added, “See, an action film, a drama, only works when you have a strong antagonist and a strong protagonist. Both have to work towards winning. It can’t be that you know from the start who’s going to win. Then it’s no fun – not for the audience either.”
Bobby’s intense performance as Abrar Haque marked his grand return to Bollywood. His much-loved entrance song, Jamal Kudu, transformed him into a social media meme source, sparking a trend, hence making his short screen time memorable.
Despite Abrar’s death in Animal, the story is set to continue. Ranbir Kapoor is slated to revisit his role in Animal Park, the eagerly awaited sequel, which is expected to delve further into the psychological conflicts introduced in the first film. Bobby said that the filming is scheduled to start in 2027, thus setting the stage for another intense chapter within the Animal universe.
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