When Dharmendra revealed Sunny Deol would feel hurt whenever he drank alcohol, said, “He doesn’t smoke or drink, learned from my mistakes"

When Dharmendra revealed Sunny Deol would feel hurt whenever he drank alcohol, said, “He doesn’t smoke or drink, learned from my mistakes"

Sunny Deol’s bond with his father Dharmendra has always been described as affectionate, respectful and deeply rooted in silent understanding. But few know how strongly Sunny reacted to one aspect of his father’s life — alcohol. An old 1983 interview of Dharmendra has resurfaced after his passing, revealing the emotional complexity between father and son during Sunny’s early years.

Dharmendra, who began his career in the 1960s, became known not only for his iconic screen presence but also for the spirited lifestyle he enjoyed off-screen, which included heavy drinking. The actor never hid this fact. In many interviews over the decades, he openly spoke about his love for alcohol. But in the Cineblitz interview from 1983, conducted just before the release of Sunny’s debut film Betaab, Dharmendra admitted something he rarely spoke about: Sunny’s silent disapproval made him rethink his habits.

Reflecting on his son’s entry into the industry, Dharmendra said, “He has learnt from my mistakes.” He immediately added, “Look, he doesn’t smoke and he doesn’t drink,” suggesting that these were the habits he believed had held him back or caused him pain.

Dharmendra then described how Sunny reacted whenever he poured himself a drink. He shared that unlike Bobby Deol — who would directly request him to stop — Sunny never said a word. But his silence carried more weight than any spoken plea.

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Dharmendra recalled, “He has seen me getting drunk, and I remember how hurt he used to look. Unlike Bobby, who comes and tells me, ‘Papa, don’t do this, don’t do that.’ Sunny could never say such things to me. But the hurt look on his face when I’d pour a drink would make me feel very guilty. He has seen that drinking does a person no good.”

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The veteran actor went on to say that Sunny avoided not just alcohol but also affairs. He believed Sunny’s choices were shaped by watching the consequences of his own life decisions. Dharmendra said, “Likewise, he knows that affairs never do anyone any good. They only come in the way of your work. So Sunny is going to stay away from them.”

At the time of this interview, Dharmendra was navigating a complex personal life. He had married Hema Malini just three years earlier, without divorcing his first wife Prakash Kaur. His long relationship with Hema had been widely known in the industry, and by then the couple already shared a daughter, Esha Deol.

Dharmendra passed away in Mumbai on November 24 at the age of 89. He is survived by his six children — Sunny, Bobby, Ajeeta, Vijayta, Esha and Ahana — and his wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini.