But the best review of all came from within the family. After Bandar hit the screens, Sunny Deol put out a photo of their mother, Prakash Kaur, in a rare show of affection, with a kiss on Bobby’s cheek. You don’t often get to see a moment like that from the Deols.
A rare family moment, and a big career win
The image was well-received online, no doubt because Prakash Kaur doesn’t put herself out there much these days. Sunny’s note with it was unadorned: ‘So happy, Bob. Love you.’
He then put some of the good word for the movie out there too. ‘Everyone’s raving about your performance,’ he wrote. ‘But nobody is more proud than mom. Love you, Bob.‘
Why the reaction feels different this time
You can hear it in the word-of-mouth for Bobby’s part in Bandar, and the family’s open pride is a testament to it. He is front and centre as Samar, an actor and singer of yesteryear who is having to fight to make a name for himself again.
It is a story that takes a turn for the worse when Samar is taken into custody over a complaint of sexual assault from Gayatri (Sapna Pabbi).
What Bandar digs into
From writers Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, the film has a ring of truth to it as the arrest turns into a bit of a circus. The title says it all: a ‘bandar’ with no say in the matter, made to do the institutional dance.
We first saw it at Toronto last year, and the talk around it has only picked up since then.
The industry is taking note too
Anurag Kashyap had some kind words for Bobby in a sit-down with Sudhir Srinivasan. He said it was ‘a complete surrender’ from an actor who has known his share of ups and downs over the years.
‘He is so emotionally naked,’ is how Kashyap put it, and he is holding his own with some of the heavier names in the cast.
Then there is the rest of the company in the film; he pointed out you have five National Award winners in the room here.
The faces you will spot
Apart from Bobby, you have Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Indrajith Sukumaran, Jitendra Joshi, Raj B Shetty and Nagesh Bhonsle. It makes for a tussle on screen as Samar has to deal with the aftermath.
With so many in the frame, you get the feeling of a man with his back to the wall, under a microscope.
Fans are reading the moment as a signal
If you’ve been following for a while, the way his mother put that kiss on him is something he put in. And with Sunny making no bones about his support, it has only added to the film’s welcome.
The post made an impression for a few reasons:
– You don’t often see Prakash Kaur
– Some straight-talking praise from Sunny
– The kind of family pride that comes with a job well done
What comes next for the conversation
The subject matter of Bandar – power, the media, a fall from grace – is up for discussion. Most will tell you that Bobby’s take on Samar is as honest as it is hard-edged.
Judging by the noise on socials, people are coming for the drama and sticking around for the acting.
The bottom line
A kiss, a nudge from a brother, and a role that is a high point in his career. That is what made the moment. ‘So happy, Bob. Love you’ was the way to put it.
Let the reviews come as they may, I suspect the one from home is the one he’ll be thinking of.
