When Bobby Deol was skeptical to do Anurag Kashyap's 'Bandar,' source says 'Dharmendra told him actors can't be...'

Anurag Kashyap’s directorial Bandar, starring Bobby Deol, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting theatrical releases. Produced by Nikhil Dwivedi, the excitement surrounding the film continues to rise as it is set to arrive with an ensemble cast to watch out for. While Bobby Deol will be seen in an intense, never-seen-before avatar in the film, he agreed to take it up the role after his father, the late legendary actor Dharmendra ji, encouraged him to do so.

A source close to the development revealed, "Bobby was initially slightly hesitant about whether he would be able to pull off the Bandar role. So, he went back to his family and took their advice. His family was also surprised, given it’s quite a dark role for a star like Bobby Deol. But it was the biggest star of his family, his late, legendary father Dharmendra, who encouraged Bobby to give his nod. The veteran actor recalled how he also encountered raised eyebrows when he showed interest in offbeat films back in the 1960s, during his rise as a superstar."

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“Dharam ji told him actors can’t be shy. He said, ‘Even I have done non-mainstream roles in Satyakam, Anupama, and Dillagi. Go take a chance,'” adds the source.

Coming off a series of impactful performances, Bobby Deol takes on the lead role in this intense drama. The film is produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and backed by Zee Studios. The film is written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, known for acclaimed projects like Paatal Lok, Kohrra, and Udta Punjab. Sudip Sharma also recently directed Kohrra 2, which has been widely appreciated by critics.

The ensemble cast of the film also includes Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Jitendra Joshi, Sapna Pabbi, Indrajith Sukumaran, Riddhi Sen, Saba Azad and Nagesh Bhosle in pivotal roles. With a talented team behind it and a strong cast, Bandar is shaping up to be one of the exciting theatrical releases to watch out for in 2026.