‘Ashram Is The Gadar Of OTT’

‘Ashram
made
people
realise
that
Bobby
Deol
can
play
different
characters.’
‘It
was
the
most
watched
show
till
date.’

Bobby
Deol
is
enjoying

Ashram‘s
success
all
over
again,
as
its
season
three
comes
to
an
end.

“The
greatest
joy
an
actor
can
get
is
when
people
start
believing
that
he
is
that
character.
So
when
I
was
performing,
I
am
happy
that
people
saw
Baba
Nirala,”
Bobby
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

How
do
you
explain
the
popularity
of
the

Ashram
series?

It’s
a
subject
that
connects
with
all
the
masses
and
everybody,
every
society.

That’s
why
it’s
worked
so
well.

Also,
Prakashji
(Jha),
as
a
filmmaker,
knows
exactly
how
to
write
according
to
the
pulse
of
the
audiences.

Subjects
on
self-appointed
godmen
have
been
made
earlier
many
times
but
never
worked.

I
think
it’s
Prakashji‘s
writing
and
the
way
he
has
scripted
it
and
created
the
characters
that
has
made
this
work.

Because
of
that,
the
casting
has
made
a
difference.

The
actors
did
such
a
fantastic
job.

What
was
your
reaction
when
Prakash
offered
you
the
role?

At
first,
I
was
shocked
that
I
was
being
offered
a
role
like
this.
I
never
thought
I
would
be
offered
such
a
challenging
part.

I
was
trying
to
do
things
out
of
my
comfort
zone
but
was
never
getting
anything
away
from
my
personality
or
the
work
I’ve
done
in
my
past.

When
I
was
offered

Ashram,
I
thought
I
had
heard
something
wrongly.

I
thought
I
was
being
offered
another
part.

But
Prakashji
was
offering
the
Baba’s
character.

Once
I
came
to
terms
and
realised
that
he
wants
me
to
play
the
Baba,
I
was
really
excited.

Were
there
any
trepidation
about
playing
the
morally
depraved
godman
in

Aashram?

I
think
the
greatest
joy
an
actor
can
get
is
when
people
start
believing
that
he
is
that
character.
So
when
I
was
performing,
I
am
happy
that
people
saw
Baba
Nirala.

Didn’t
the
character’s
ugliness
affect
you?

I’m
an
actor.
We
play
different
characters
but
never
take
them
home
with
us.

It
was
difficult
in
the
beginning
but
eventually,
I
used
to
come
back
from
work
and
sit
with
the
same
people
I’d
worked
with
in
the
day
with
—
and
had
treated
the
way
my
character
did
—
but
when
I
would
sit
with
them,
it
would
be
all
normal
and
so
I
would
be
fine.

Animal
was
a
turning
point
in
your
career.
When
do
we
see
the
sequel?

When
I
first
saw
the
film,
I
realised

Animal
Park
was
going
to
be
made.

I
didn’t
know
about
it
till
I
saw
it
myself
with
the
audience.

I’m
sure
Sandeep
(Reddy
Vanga,
Director)
is
planning
something
but
I
have
no
knowledge
of
anything
—
the
script,
the
cast…

Where
do
you
place

Ashram
and

Animal
in
your
repertoire?

Ashram
made
people
realise
that
Bobby
Deol
can
play
different
characters.
I
think
it
was
the
most
watched
show
till
date.

It
was,
as
my
brother
Sunny
(Deol)
said,
the

Gadar
of
the
OTT
platform.

But
the
magic
of
the
silver
screen
is
something
you
cannot
beat,
and
I
think

Animal
changed
my
life
completely.

It’s
always
your
work
that
speaks
for
you.
I
think
that’s
how
it
started
with

Class
of
83,
Ashram,
Love
Hostel
and
then

Animal.

Is

Ashram
Season
4
is
happening?

The
way
it
has
been
loved
and
been
watched
by
the
audiences,
I’m
sure
they
are
planning.
I
hope
they
are.