Rising Bharat Summit 2025: Sunny Deol talks about why he went to an acting school, says 'wanted to be treated like a normal person'

Sunny Deol was a guest at News18 Rising India Summit underway in New Delhi

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, who is gearing up for his south debut with the new release Jaat, was one of the distinguished guests at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 underway in New Delhi today.

News18’s Rising Bharat Summit 2025 is being held today, April 8, to celebrate the power of India’s youth as the driving force in the journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Sunny Deol was in conversation for a session titled 'Sunny Side Up,' where host Kishore Ajvani spoke to him about a variety of subjects, including his reason for joining an acting school and also the secret to his fit self.

Sunny Deol, who will turn 68 soon, said he doesn't believe in age and feels that he can do things better than the young actors of today and at times even more.

"Pehle to mujhe pata nahi ki meri umar kya hai, kyunki kabhi socha nahi iske baare mein pata nahi chala waqt kab guzar gaya. Mujhe toh abhi bhi lagta hai main jitne young actors ke saath kaam karta hoon, main unse kahin kam nahi hoon. Jab shooting karte hain, toh main unse kuch zyada hi kar jata hoon. Toh ye umar kya hai mujhe nahi pata jab iska ehsaas hoga, maybe tab mujhe pata chalega I am getting old," he said. (I don't even know my age because I never think about it. I didn't realize when time passed. I still feel I'm just as capable as the young actors I work with. In fact, when we're shooting, I often do more than what they do. So, what is age, really? I don't know. Maybe when I feel it, then I'll know I'm getting old.)

On the fun side, Sunny Deol said he can still take 'panga' with anyone and doesn't consider age as a barrier.

"Mere ko lagta toh nahi meri umar kya hai. Obviously, hum log baat karte rehte hain, lekin main lagta toh nahi hoon. Abhi bhi kisi ke saath panga lena hai toh le leta hoon main. "I don't feel like I've aged. We obviously keep talking about it, but I don't feel it. I'm still ready to take on anyone, anytime.")

Talking about the persona that he has in the industry and his famous dialogue from Damini, 'ye dhai kilo ka haath jab kisi par padta hai na toh aadmi uthta nahi uth jata hai,'

Sunny said, for him Dhai Kilo ka haath is the 'strength of truth and honesty,' which his family always believes in.

"Nahi, kuch aisa socha nahi tha. Hum genetically hain hi waise, Papa (Dharmendra) se chalte aa rahe. Obviously, jis tarah ki hamari family hai, hum hamesha sachai ke saath hi chalte hai. Aur jab bhi Dhai kilo ke haath ki baat karta hai, toh main kehta hoon baat Dhai Kilo Ka haath nahi hai balki sachai ki hai. Taqat uski hai. "I never thought about it, but I suppose we're just genetically wired that way. It comes from Papa (Dharmendra), so it's in our nature. Obviously, given the kind of family we are, we've always stuck to the truth. And whenever someone talks about having a powerful punch (Dhai Kilo Ka Haath), I say it's not about the physical strength but about the power of truth. That's where the real strength lies.")

During the course of the conversation, Sunny Deol also revealed that he indeed went to an acting school before his big debut in Betaab. He said that the real reason was that he wanted to be treated like a normal person where nobody could recognize him.

"I am very shy, and it is visible in my personality too. And when I was about to start my career, I was unable to do it in India, and people knew who I was because of Papa. I was not getting good training, so I wanted to learn acting where people didn't recognize me. That's why I went to Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham. I was there for a year and a half. I learned basic acting and wanted to get rid of my shyness and be treated like a normal person. I got admission through Shashi Kapoor ji, as he knew someone there. He asked me to go there, and did I Betaab, and then more films," he said.

Sunny Deol is going to be seen in Jaat with actor Randeep Hooda, and the film has been produced by Mythri Movie Makers.