Abhay Deol comes from the popular ‘Deol’ family in Bollywood and is cousin of Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. His father Ajit Deol was a popular writer. The actor has been vocal about his conservative family dynamics. In a recent interview, Abhay Deol calls his parents ‘Bollywood hillbillies’ as he discusses his upbringing in the film family.

Appearing on SCREEN’s The Suvir Saran Show, Abhay Deol candidly called his parents ‘Bollywood hillbillies’ as he discusses childhood and upbringing. “My mom is a really simple person, and so was my dad. They came straight from a village to Bombay, so to speak. I kind of compare them to the Beverly Hillbillies—they were the Bollywood hillbillies. My dad was in the industry, he produced and wrote, he went into shayari after a point in life. But, they just shielded us more and more, I think they had their own traumatic response. Their trauma was to protect us.”

The actor also highlighted how grounded his parents are despite the family’s fame. “They’re very rooted and proud of where they come from. We grew up in the city, so there was a slight disconnect. I speak to my parents in Hindi, but with my siblings and cousins, it’s mostly English,” he shared.

Recalling his childhood, Abhay reflected on how fame influenced their family life. “Our parents tried to give us as normal a childhood as possible, but we weren’t in a typical situation. I had to take permission to meet friends. We weren’t allowed out all the time—the celebrity status did create a bubble. There was a strong sense of being sheltered.”

On the work front, Abhay Deol has a few upcoming projects this year, including, Bun Tikki and Son Of Sardar 2.

Also Read: Abhay Deol Recalls Facing Violence In His Past Relationships, Confesses, “I’d Rather Be Single And Lonely Than Coupled Up & Miserable”