Method acting is a style of acting that has become popular since its inception in the US in the mid-20th century. Several well-known actors, from Daniel Day Lewis to Aamir Khan, swear by their methods, which pay off in the form of commendable performances. It can often take its toll on the artists, as in the case of this actor, who was devastated after playing a role. In 2009, Anurag Kashyap came up with his most unusual film Dev D, a modern retelling of the story of Devdas, the tale of a tragic and possessive lover. Set in modern-day Punjab and Delhi, the film tells this story by showing the protagonist not as a tragic figure, but as a flawed and chauvinistic man. Abhay Deol played the titular character. The actor prepared extensively for the role. When the film hit the theatres, it was praised, as was Abhay’s performance.
Abhay Deol later revealed that his attempt to get into the head of the flawed Dev cost him. Talking about the time he spent in New York after Dev D, Abhay told a media portal in 2023, “The Dev D role that I played, I couldn’t get it out of my head. So, for a year, I did what Dev D did in the film. I got a little more into it than Dev. I wasn’t on the streets in ragged clothes. I drank like a fool every day.” He also said that he even had memory lapses because of drinking so much. “I made some very good friends, so I remember some things. My whole life is one big blur,” he recalled.
Despite being so praised for his work, Abhay Deol has never been a part of mainstream Bollywood hits. In an interview in 2019, he lamented that he didn’t get much work in the industry. “Nobody gives me any work. The kind of content I want to be a part of is hardly being made. At the same time, I have not closed myself off from anything. As long as it excites me, I am ready for it,” he said.
In 2023, Abhay Deol was again praised for his portrayal of activist Shekhar Krishnamoorthy in the Netflix series Trial By Fire. The series, based on the Uphaar tragedy, was well received by the audience. He is now returning to films after two years with director Faraz Arif Ansari’s film Bun Tikki, which also stars Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi. The film is slated to hit the theatres later this year.
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