Bobby Deol says Race 3 helped him reconnect with younger audiences

Actor Bobby Deol says he accepted a supporting role in Race 3 because he believed younger moviegoers had stopped recognising him. During a recent conversation on Shekhar Tonite, Bobby spoke openly about the difficult phase in his career and explained how one commercial film changed public attention around him again.

Bobby entered Bollywood in the 1990s and quickly attracted attention with films like Barsaat and Soldier. At that time, many people viewed him as one of the industry’s rising stars. However, although several of his films later gained cult popularity on television and streaming platforms, consistent box-office success did not follow through the next decade.

As newer actors entered the industry, Bobby gradually disappeared from mainstream conversations. His screen appearances reduced, and younger audiences connected more with a different generation of stars. Meanwhile, social media culture and fast-changing film trends pushed several 1990s actors out of regular visibility.

Speaking about that period, Bobby admitted he understood the need to reconnect with audiences. Therefore, when Salman Khan approached him for Race 3, he immediately agreed.

According to Bobby, Salman called him personally and asked whether he would transform physically for the role. Bobby said he showed no hesitation because he saw the project as an important opportunity. He believed a Salman Khan film would automatically reach millions of viewers across India and overseas.

That calculation worked in his favour.

Although Race 3 received mixed reactions from critics, the film performed strongly at the box office and brought Bobby back into mainstream discussion. Fans started noticing his physical transformation, screen presence and renewed energy. On the ground, many viewers especially praised his action scenes and fitness during the film’s promotional run.

Soon after, Bobby strengthened his comeback further with Aashram. The streaming series presented him in a darker and more layered role, far different from his earlier romantic hero image. As the show gained popularity online, a younger digital audience also started discovering his work again.

Then came another turning point.

Bobby appeared briefly but powerfully in Animal alongside Ranbir Kapoor. Despite limited screen time, his intense role created strong buzz on social media. Fans circulated clips, edits and reactions widely, while many viewers described his performance as one of the film’s biggest surprises.

Today, Bobby’s career looks very different from where it stood a few years ago. Industry observers now describe him as one of Bollywood’s strongest comeback stories. He continues to explore darker characters, action-driven roles and streaming projects instead of relying only on traditional hero parts.

His upcoming lineup includes Bandar directed by Anurag Kashyap. He also features in Jana Nayagan, which marks the final film appearance of Vijay.

For Bobby, the comeback did not happen overnight. Instead, he rebuilt visibility step by step. First came recognition, then reinvention, and now a new generation once again knows who Bobby Deol is.