Abhay Deol on Navigating Privilege, Fame, Industry Politics | Karishma Mehta | HSBC presents Realign

“Shouldn’t humor just evolve with time? Looking at the mindset of people today, we should just find newer ways to adapt to humor than comprise on the same” From Dev D to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Abhay Deol carved his own path in Bollywood—choosing roles that defied the norm and challenged the industry's rules. But behind the camera, he battled rejection, industry politics, and the pressure to conform. Today, Abhay opens up about the price of being different—why Bollywood didn’t know what to do with him, why he left at his peak, and how moving to New York became his trauma response. He shares raw insights on dating a narcissist, the downside of privilege, overcoming addiction, and why he refuses to play by the industry’s PR game. We also discussed: How Abhay navigated privilege in Bollywood The downside of coming from a famous family Why he hated PR & the industry's response to it Moving to New York as a trauma response The impact of solitude on self-discovery His struggles with addiction & mental health How he dealt with grief without therapy His views on love, relationships & marriage Why Bollywood’s egos limit creative freedom What it really takes to survive in the industry The lessons he learned from ZNMD In this episode of HSBC presents Realign, Abhay reveals how he reclaimed control of his life, the hard lessons Bollywood taught him, and how he’s finally found peace on his own terms. Just like Abhay, if you’re always on the move to discover yourself, then it’s time to take a break, travel and find yourself. And now with the 𝐇𝐒𝐁𝐂 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝, you can travel smart —it’s your ultimate companion for seamless global adventures. Check it out: https://grp.hsbc/t1znmd #AbhayDeol #humansofbombay #podcast Time Stamps 00:00 - Precap 02:27 - Introduction 03:17 - Welcoming Abhay Deol 03:45 - Navigating life 05:03 - Childhood days 06:50 - Good and bad experiences from childhood 08:55 - Navigating hardships as a child 11:27 - Humor being offensive 12:38 - Moving to NY at the peak of career 14:33 - Year of break & deciding to come back 21:11 - Deciding to come back 22:03 - His way of reconnecting with himself 24:05 - About Mental Health 29:31 - Starting from ‘what I know’ 34:06 - About addictions 35:20 - Karma 36:24 - Relationship with family 39:06 - Dealing with grief 40:46 - About marriages 45:28 - About relationships 46:11 - Expectation out of love 47:55 - Definition of Masculinity 51:12 - Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 56:07 - Life changing moment 01:04:26 - Being a DJ 01:06:49 - What does travel mean to you? 01:12:22 -OTT being a leveller? 01:13:49 - How has industry evolved? 01:17:37 - Bollywood being criticized 01:18:23 - Has work been impacted after being vocal? 01:21:22 - Invest In You 01:23:49 - What helped you realign? 01:27:55 - Setting boundaries 01:29:42 - Advice 01:32:33 -Social media and fear 01:37:00 - Thank You Links: Realign Instagram:   / realignpod   Humans of Bombay Instagram:  / officialhumansofbombay   Uncovered by Humans of Bombay:    / @humansofbombayuncovered   LinkedIn:   / humans-of-bombay   HSBC YouTube:    / @hsbc_in   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsbc_in?igs... Abhay Deol Instagram:   / abhaydeol   Facebook:   / abhaydeol   X: https://x.com/AbhayDeol Karishma Mehta Instagram:   / karimehta05   LinkedIn:   / karishma-mehta-b22151174   About Realign – Explore the confluence of science, spirituality, and wellness and get empowered to navigate the complexities of modern life. 'Realign' isn’t just a podcast; it's a deep breath, a moment of clarity…an oasis of mindful living. With every episode, delve into mind-expanding conversations with experts, thought leaders, and visionaries who challenge the way w e approach growth. And through these conversations, create a blueprint for mindful living. If you're seeking clarity, purpose, or simply looking to realign your life, this podcast is your North Star. It's time to realign – mind, body, and soul! About Humans of Bombay – Humans of Bombay is a movement that started 11 years ago. We believe that every person has a story to tell and we want to help them tell these stories. In these years we’ve published stories across genres – stories of love, hope, faith and courage. And through our storytelling, we’ve built an engaged community of over 6M! Disclaimer: Any and all information, statements or suggestions expressed or implied in any manner by the speaker, before, during, or after this event is strictly the opinion of the speaker and not the opinion of HSBC India. HSBC India does not recommend, endorse, oppose, or suggest the use of information shared by speaker during the event.