Abhay Deol was born March 15, 1976, India, is an Indian film actor.
Family background
Abhay is the son of producer and director Ajit Singh Deol. His paternal uncle is famous veteran actor Dharmendra and his cousins are actors Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and actress Esha Deol.
Career
Abhay Deol movies are charectorized by Down to Earth acting. Unlike most of Khan counterparts or Deol cousins an average Joe can identify or even imagine himself as him. Abhay Deol said in an interview with Rediff that he didn't get into acting because of his famous uncle and his cousins but that he was involved in theatre in school. "At 18, I decided to take the plunge. It took me 10 years because I didn't want to leave my education to get into films.
He made his film debut in the 2005 film Socha Na Tha . The film got him good reviews for his performance which did not do very well at the box office. It was a box office flop. His second film was Ahista Ahista in 2006 which was also a box office flop, although got him good critical reviews. His first 2007 release was Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. which has a multi starcast and has emerged to be his first major box office success. His second 2007 release was Ek Chalis Ki Last Local which did average business at select multiplexes. His third film in 2007 Manorama Six Feet Under 21, 2007 and was a disaster at the box office. However his 2008 movie Oye Lucky Lucky Oye was a big hit not just with critics but with the masses as well and established him as a dependable mainstream actor.
Abhay Deol is also the pivotal person behind 2009 Bollywood film Dev.D, a modern day version of Devdas which he himself devised, and in which he enacts the title role. About being compared to biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and vetaran Dilip Kumar, who have played 'Devdas' in the past, Abhay told Radio Sargam "I'm not too scared of the comparisons. I am aware of the fact but I don't get into that too much. After all, I was compared to my brothers and uncle when I came to the industry. So I am used to it and only worry about my work. So after them, it would very well be Shah Rukh Khan.