Abhay Deol speaks on growing up in “conservative” household; reveals “Women aren't allowed to work in film industry”

Actor Abhay Deol recently shared rare insights into his upbringing within the Deol family. Abhay discussed the conservative nature of his family, revealing that women in the family were “allowed to work but not in films.” In a recent interview with Filmfare, he described the traditional mindset that shaped his early years and his family’s reserved stance on the film industry, despite its deep roots within Bollywood.

"Women Are Allowed to Work but Not in Films," Says Abhay Deol While reflecting on his family’s values, Abhay remarked, “They [women] are allowed to work but not in films.” Growing up, he explained, “We were pretty conservative. We were a joint family with seven kids in the house. Films were something I was exposed to from childhood through my uncle and father. They came from humble backgrounds, they came from a village, and for them, the big city and world of glamour was alien.” According to Abhay, his family’s desire to “hold on to their small-town values” impacted the family’s outlook on mingling within the film industry.

Abhay shared that these protective measures left him confused as a child, saying, “I didn’t understand why we were held back from going to ‘filmy parties,’ or mingling with the industry kids. They were trying to protect us, but back then, I was confused.” A Unique Career Path in Bollywood Discussing his own film choices, Abhay recalled that his father, Ajit Deol, initially disapproved of his decision to star in certain films. “What I did with the film industry, my family was not surprised at all. They always said I should either be a lawyer or an actor. If you ask Bobby or Sunny Deol, they will just tell you that I argue a lot,” he shared, adding that even in his early years, he was encouraged to conform to family traditions.

Abhay noted that his family supported his debut in Socha Na Tha but grew concerned over later film choices like Manorama Six Feet Under and Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local. “My father was worried, he hated Manorama because that was not a language they understood or a change they saw happening,” he explained. The family eventually came to accept his career after the success of films like Dev D and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, though they remained cautious about his unconventional path.

Speaking of his professional front, Abhay recently wrapped shooting for his next, titled Bun Tikki. Besides him, the film will also star Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman. The makers are yet to announce the release date. 

Also Read: Abhay Deol challenges conventional notions of sexuality: “I have embraced all experiences in my life”