Abhay Deol Wiki, Height, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Biography & More

Abhay Deol

Abhay Deol is an Indian actor and producer who predominantly works in Bollywood films. Some of his popular films include Dev.D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Wiki/Biography

Abhay Singh Deol was born on Monday, 15 March 1976 (age 47 years; as of 2023) in Bombay (now Mumbai). His zodiac sign is Pisces. His hometown is Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He did his schooling at Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai. He dropped out of The City College of New York where he was pursuing an acting and theatre course. [1]Forbes India

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 6′ 1″

Weight (approx.): 70 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 41′ Waist 33′ Biceps 13′

Abhay Deol

Family

Parents & Siblings

Abhay’s father’s name is Ajit Singh Deol (deceased), who was a filmmaker and actor.

Abhay Deol's father

Abhay Deol’s father

His mother’s name is Usha Deol. He is the only child and does not have any siblings.

Abhay Deol's mother

Abhay Deol’s mother

Wife & Children

As of 2022, he is unmarried.

Other relatives

He is the nephew of actor Dharmendra and the cousin of Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Esha Deol,Ahana Deol, Ajeita Deol, and Vijeta Deol.

Abhay Deol with his uncle

Abhay Deol with his uncle

Abhay Deol with his cousins

Abhay Deol with his cousins

Relationships/Affairs

Preeti Desai

In 2016, Abhay was rumoured to be dating model and actress Preeti Desai.

Saireena Mamik

Abhay Deol was reported to be in a relationship with Saireena Mamik, a celebrity manager and artist, in 2020. According to sources, they spent the quarantine period together at his house during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abhay Deol with Saireena Mamik

Abhay Deol with Saireena Mamik

Shilo Shiv Suleman

Abhay was in a relationship with artist and social activist Shilo Shiv Suleman in 2022.

Abhay Deol with Shilo Shiv Suleman

Abhay Deol with Shilo Shiv Suleman

Caste

Abhay was born into a Hindu Jatt family. [2]JAT News

Address

Municipal Industrial Estate, Off Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli, Mumbai

Career

Film

Abhay made his debut with the Hindi film Socha Na Tha in 2005 and played the role of Viren Oberoi.

Abhay Deol in the film 'Socha Na Tha' as Viren Oberoi

Abhay Deol in the film ‘Socha Na Tha’ as Viren Oberoi

He gained recognition with the Bollywood films Manorama Six Feet Under (2007) and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008). He came into the limelight in 2009 with the romantic black comedy Bollywood film Dev.D in which he played the role the titular role. The film was a modern-day adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s classic Bengali novel Devdas.

Abhay Deol in the film 'Dev.D'

Abhay Deol in the film ‘Dev.D’

He rose to prominence with the comedy-drama film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in which he played the role of Kabir Dewan. The film follows three friends who decide to turn their fantasy vacation into reality after one of their friends gets engaged.

Abhay Deol in the film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'

Abhay Deol in the film ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’

Other prominent films of his career include Ahista Ahista (2006), Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007), and Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016).

Abhay Deol in the film 'Happy Bhag Jayegi'

Abhay Deol in the film ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’

In 2019, he also made his Tamil film debut with the film Hero.

Poster of the Tamil film 'Hero'

Poster of the Tamil film ‘Hero’

Television

Abhay made his television debut in 2014 with the television show Gumrah: End of Innocence as a host.

 

In 2021, he appeared in the television film Spin.

Abhay Deol in the television film 'Spin'

Abhay Deol in the television film ‘Spin’

Web Series

In 2020, he made his debut with the web series JL50 on SonyLIV as Shantanu and in 2021, he appeared in the web series 1962: The War in the Hills on Disney+ Hotstar.

Abhay Deol in the web series 'JL50'

Abhay Deol in the web series ‘JL50’

Others

He has co-produced the Hindi film One By Two (2014) and produced the Hindi film What Are The Odds (2019).

Poster of the film 'What Are The Odds'

Poster of the film ‘What Are The Odds’

Controversies

A war of words with Anil Kapoor

In 2010, Abhay skipped the promotion of the film ‘Aisha’ because the film was flop. In an interview, he talked about this and said,

When I was shooting, I realised that the film was more about clothes than actual acting. I even read reviews of the movie that praised the clothes. I would like to say today that I will never ever be part of a film like Aisha in my lifetime. It’s not the kind of film I’d like to do.”

Later in 2010, actor Anil Kapoor talked about Abhay on Koffee with Karan and said that he needed help. [3]The Indian Express

Protest against T-Series

In 2014, he protested against the music label ‘T-Series’ for not releasing the music of his film ‘One By Two’ by coming with a black eye at the Screen Awards. Deol said that music labels like T-series expect musicians to sign a contract with a clause that is restrictive for the latter which is why he felt that encouraged One By Two’s composers to not sign such an agreement. In an interview, T-series clarified the confusion and said,

We regret to inform you that we have decided to relinquish the music rights of ‘One By Two’. Although we had all the rights from Viacom, we are unable to release the music album in the absence of valid link agreements between Viacom and composers (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) of the album.” [4]Deccan Chronicle

A picture of Abhay Deol showcasing his black eye at Screen Awards (2014)

A picture of Abhay Deol showcasing his black eye at Screen Awards (2014)

Calling out Bollywood Celebrities For Staring In Fairness Cream Ads

In 2017, Abhay had a fight with Sonam Kapoor after he criticized some Bollywood actors on Facebook for appearing in fairness cream ads. He took the names of actors Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, and Shahid Kapoor in the Facebook posts. Sonam, in response to the Facebook post, highlighted that Abhay’s cousin sister Esha Deol too appeared in the same kind of ads. [5]Hindustan Times

Abhay not given much importance during the award show

In 2020, he shared a post on Instagram where he revealed that he and Farhan Akhtar were not considered during the award shows and Hrithik Roshan was considered as the lead actor. In the post, he wrote,

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, released in 2011. Need to chant this title to myself everyday nowadays! Also a great watch when anxious or stressed. I would like to mention that almost all the award functions demoted me and Farhan from main leads, and nominated us as ‘supporting actors’. Hrithik and Katrina were nominated as “actors in a leading role”. So by the industry’s own logic, this was a film about a man and a woman falling in love, with the man supported by his friends for whatever decisions he takes.” [6]The Indian Express

Slamming the film ‘Raanjhanaa’

In 2013, Abhay said that the film Raanjhanaa had a backward storyline and promoted sexual harassment. Sharing a note on social media, he wrote,

Such clear and valid insight from @oldschoolrebel9 regarding the film Raanjhana. History will not look kindly at this film for its regressive message. It’s been a theme in Bollywood for decades, where a boy can (and should), pursue a girl until she relents. Only in cinema does she do that willfully. In reality we have seen time and again that it leads to sexual violence of some sort. Glorifying it on screen only leads to blaming the victim, as @oldschoolrebel9 explains it so brilliantly. Please do take time out to read her observations in the pics above. #shedoesnotlikeyou #growup #gloryfyingsexualharrasment.” [7]The Indian Express

Award

2009: Breakthrough Talent of the Year at GQ India Man Of The Year

2011: HELLO! Hall of Fame Award for Most Stylish Man of the Year

2012: Fun Fearless Award for Best Male Actor

2012: Critics’ Award at Best Song of the Year for the film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

2012: Screen Award for Best Ensemble Cast for the film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Car Collection

Mitsubishi Pajero SFX

Salary

Abhay charges Rs.  2-4 crore per film.

Favourites

  • Desserts: Tiramisu, Kaju barfi, Gulab jamun, Muffin
  • Actress: Angelina Jolie
  • Film(s): Bicycle Thieves (1948, Italian), Dr Strangelove (1964), Brazil (1985), Children of Heaven (1997), Star Wars
  • Director: Stanley Kubrick
  • Colour(s): White, Black
  • Sport: Cricket
  • Restaurant: Blue Frog in Mumbai
  • Travel Destination(s): New York, Mediterranean sea, Thailand

Facts/Trivia

  • Abhay was called by the name ‘Dimpy’ because of his dimples.
  • His hobbies include interior designing, travelling, yoga, and martial arts.
  • When he was young, he thought that he would directly work in Hollywood and would not even try working in Bollywood.
  • In an interview, he said that when he started his career, he always thought of maintaining his family’s image.
  • In 2009, he was included in the list of Zoom’s ’50 Most Desirable Hotties.’
  • In 2014, he mortgaged his Juhu flat to get over the debt caused by the film ‘One By Two.’
  • In an interview, he said that for the film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, he took deep-sea diving training.
  • He has a production house ‘Forbidden Films.’ In an interview, he talked about becoming a producer and said,

    As an actor I’ve always wanted to balance mainstream and non-mainstream work
now digital is here, independent filmmakers finally have a platform, so I decided to take the plunge and explore this space.

  • In an interview, he said that he was scared of cockroaches.
  • In an interview, he talked about sexism in the Bollywood industry and said,

    Sometimes we are sexist without knowing it simply because of our conditioning
and only if you are open to seeing your faults can you see them and when you do, you grow in leaps and bounds. That conditioning then just dies in a moment.”

  • According to Abhay Deol, he hated fame in childhood as his family was frequented by media persons, and it was very annoying to him. In an interview, while talking about this, he said,

    Because I grew up in a filmy family. I saw fame up close as a child. I didn’t like it because your privacy goes away. A lot is written about you. I used to literally hate fame and the media. Because growing up I saw a lot written about family, being questioned as a kid, ‘Is it true, is that true?’ It used to make me angry. ‘Your father works in films, your uncle is a big star’. Obviously. Whatever was written about them, I was asked in school. I just didn’t like that. I saw a lot of people around family who I knew were there to gain benefits, they weren’t friends.”

    In the interview, he also talked about the film Dev D and said that he remained a tippler for almost one year after the release of the film in February 2009. He said,

    The Dev D role that I did, I wasn’t out of that headspace. So for one year, I did what Dev D did in the film. I have a little more better than Dev. I wasn’t in tattered clothes in the streets. I drank every day like a fool.” [8]Hindustan Times

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