Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal opened up about his experience working with Bobby Deol in Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 – Part 2, directed by Prakash Jha.
Speaking with media, Chandan shared how a strong off-screen bond with Deol translated well into their on-screen chemistry.
“Bobby sir trusted me and gave me love, and Prakash sir encouraged us to develop a friendly bond on set so that it reflected on-screen perfectly,” Chandan said.
He recalled their time spent together, adding, “We developed a close bond off-screen. We used to keep chatting the entire day, had lunch and tea together. ‘Ghee bhaat khaate the saath mein, mujhe bahut pasand hai, mai apne hisse ka unhe bhi deta tha’ (we ate ghee rice together, I liked it so much that I would even share mine with him).”
Chandan fondly mentioned moments where they would wait for each other after shoots, showcasing their camaraderie.
In the series, Chandan plays ‘Bhopa Swami’, the right-hand man of self-styled godman Baba Nirala, played by Bobby Deol. Reflecting on his role, Chandan said:
“I knew how to prepare for this character, treat it, and present it to the audience. People loved the character traits — ‘vo khunkaar hai, acha dost hai’ (he’s fierce but a good friend). In this season, Bhopa falls in love, which was a big surprise for viewers. He also betrayed Baba, adding another unexpected twist. The character’s many dimensions made portraying him incredibly exciting.”
Meanwhile, Bobby Deol expressed gratitude to director Prakash Jha, saying:
“He believed in me, and I got what I wanted. God was kind to me. I got such a challenging role.”
Prakash Jha praised Deol’s dedication, noting:
“You really worked hard. I needed a face that appealed to everyone, and hats off to him; he put great effort into his character, the language, and understanding the role.”
Jha recalled his advice to Deol during preparation:
“I told him, ‘Don’t watch videos of any real-life babas. Believe that you are Baba — embrace the role in your own way.’”
Deol further explained how Jha’s guidance shaped his performance:
“He told me people will listen to you — keep this in mind. I always remembered this and avoided being overly dramatic. Whenever I strayed, Prakash ji would stop me. Overall, it’s been an amazing journey, and every actor has done a fantastic job.”
Recalling how he landed the role, Deol said, “I thought Prakash ji was offering me a police officer’s role, but when he said ‘aap baba ka role play karenge’ (you will play Baba), I couldn’t believe it.”
Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 – Part 2 is available for free streaming on Amazon MX Player from February 27 and can also be watched via Amazon’s Prime Video, Fire TV, and Connected TVs.