"I don’t really have great working memories with him."
Indian film director Anurag Kashyap has opened up about his “painfully difficult” experience of working with actor Abhay Deol.
The actor made his Bollywood debut with the 2005 film, Socha Na Tha helmed by Imtiaz Ali.
He then went on to star in films like Dev D (2009) which was directed by Anurag Kashyap.
Dev D (2009) revolved around Dev, played by Abhay, who finds comfort in drugs and alcohol after breaking up with his childhood sweetheart, Paro.
As his life spirals out of control, he meets Chanda, a prostitute and falls in love with her.
However, it appears Abhay Deol was not a very cooperative person on set and was rather ‘arrogant’.
Recalling his memories of working with Abhay in an interaction with Huffington Post India, Anurag remembers a bitter experience. He said:
“It was painfully difficult to work with him. I don’t really have great working memories with him. And haven’t talked to him much since I finished shooting.”
Anurag Kashyap continued to mention that Abhay was rather confused. He explained:
“He wanted to do artistic movies but also wanted the mainstream benefits. The benefits and luxuries of being a ‘Deol’.
“He would stay in a five-star hotel while the entire crew stayed in Paharganj for a film that was made on a very tight budget. Also, the reason a lot of his directors went away from him.”
Typically, stars are expected to promote the film, but Abhay decided against it and did not turn up. Anurag revealed:
“He wasn’t there to promote Dev D (2005). He dissed the film and crew a lot. He was gone a long time.”
“It was because of something he was grappling with emotionally and personally and never talked about. He also felt betrayed by me about which he has never spoken to me ever.”
Abhay, who also interacted with the same entertainment portal, said:
“I was too bullish on the success behind me. I deluded myself into thinking that now the big players would put their money on me and experiment.
“Maybe the very expectation that they’d see things my way was my arrogance.”
Abhay Deol further added:
“I could have played the game better. I could have secured myself in a bigger manner. But I did not. And that was my choice. I don’t have any regrets.”
Despite Anurag Kashyap’s difficult experience of working with Abhay Deol, he added that he was a “brilliant actor” who “deserves more”.