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.