Bobby Deol 'finest actor today', says sister Esha Deol after Bandar screening
Synopsis
Esha Deol calling Bobby Deol 'undoubtedly the finest actor today' after his 17-year gap as a solo lead says as much about Bollywood's second-chance culture as it does about family loyalty. With 'Bandar' arriving on strong early buzz, Bobby's reinvention arc — from 90s hero to 'Animal' villain to solo lead again — is one of Hindi cinema's more compelling comebacks.
Key Takeaways
Esha Deol praised Bobby Deol as 'the finest actor today' on social media after attending a special screening of 'Bandar' . 'Bandar' released on 5 June 2025 and is Bobby's first solo-led film in 17 years .
The screening was attended by Bobby's wife Tania Deol , family members, and close friends.
Esha and Bobby belong to different branches of the Deol family — she is Dharmendra and Hema Malini 's daughter; he is Dharmendra's son from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur .
Bobby's recent resurgence includes acclaimed work in web series 'Aashram' and the 2023 blockbuster 'Animal' .
Actress Esha Deol publicly praised her elder brother Bobby Deol as the 'finest actor today' following a special screening of his latest film 'Bandar', which released on 5 June 2025. Esha shared a photograph from the screening on her social media account, calling Bobby's performance 'enduring and vulnerable.'
What Esha Said
Tagging Bobby in her post, Esha wrote: 'You are in the best form ever! Undoubtedly the finest actor today. Enduring & Vulnerable. Way to go Bhaiya.' The picture showed Esha dressed in a white shirt and white trousers, posing alongside Bobby Deol, his wife Tania Deol, and other family members and close friends who attended the screening.
The Deol Family Bond
Esha is the daughter of legendary actor Dharmendra and actress Hema Malini, while Bobby is Dharmendra's son from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur. Despite coming from different branches of the Deol family, Esha and Bobby have consistently expressed public affection and support for each other over the years.
This is not the first time Esha has championed a sibling's work. During the release of Sunny Deol's film 'Border 2' in January, she penned an appreciation note that also celebrated their father Dharmendra's conferral of the Padma Vibhushan award, writing: 'You are the best' while tagging Sunny.
Bobby Deol's Career Comeback and Bandar
'Bandar' marks Bobby Deol's first solo-led theatrical film in 17 years, and early audience and critical response has reportedly been enthusiastic. The film is seen as a continuation of the actor's remarkable professional resurgence, which began with his widely acclaimed role in the web series 'Aashram' and reached a mainstream peak with his menacing turn in the 2023 blockbuster 'Animal'.
Bobby made his debut as a lead actor with the 1995 film 'Barsaat', opposite Twinkle Khanna, and went on to headline hits such as 'Gupt', 'Soldier', 'Kareeb', 'Badal', 'Bichhoo', 'Ajnabee', 'Humraaz', 'Apne', 'Yamla Pagla Deewana', and 'Race 3'.
What to Watch
With 'Bandar' drawing strong early word-of-mouth, attention now turns to its box-office trajectory in the coming weeks — a key indicator of whether Bobby Deol's solo-lead bankability has fully returned after nearly two decades.
Point of View
But it lands at a strategically significant moment — Bobby Deol is attempting something few 90s heroes have managed: a credible return as a solo theatrical lead. 'Animal' proved he could command the screen in an ensemble; 'Bandar' tests whether that translates to box-office pull on his own. The 17-year gap as a solo lead is the real story here, not the sibling affection. If 'Bandar' holds at the box office, it would complete one of Bollywood's more unlikely second acts.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Esha Deol say about Bobby Deol after watching Bandar?
Esha Deol called Bobby Deol 'undoubtedly the finest actor today' and described his performance as 'enduring and vulnerable' in a social media post after attending a special screening of 'Bandar.' She tagged Bobby and addressed him as 'Bhaiya' in the post.
When did Bobby Deol's film Bandar release?
'Bandar' released on 5 June 2025. It is Bobby Deol's first solo-led theatrical film in 17 years and has reportedly received strong early reviews from both audiences and critics.
How are Esha Deol and Bobby Deol related?
Esha Deol is the daughter of Dharmendra and Hema Malini, while Bobby Deol is Dharmendra's son from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur. They are half-siblings and have publicly supported each other's work on multiple occasions.
What is Bobby Deol's career background before Bandar?
Bobby Deol made his lead debut in the 1995 film 'Barsaat' and starred in hits including 'Gupt', 'Soldier', and 'Humraaz'. After a quieter phase, he reinvented himself with the web series 'Aashram' and the 2023 blockbuster 'Animal', setting the stage for his solo-lead return in 'Bandar'.
Has Esha Deol publicly praised other siblings before?
Yes. During the release of Sunny Deol's film 'Border 2' in January, Esha shared an appreciation note calling him 'the best', and also celebrated their father Dharmendra's Padma Vibhushan award in the same post.
