Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away today, leaving a void in the Bollywood industry. His career is usually remembered through his solo hits, from Phool Aur Patthar to Sholay. But another part of his screen legacy runs through his work with his two beloved sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol. The father-son trio have worked in five films together, making it a conscious choice to be cast together as a family, strengthening their bond.
Sultanat (1986) - The first Deol collaboration
Their journey began with Sultanat, one of the big multi-starrers of the 1980s. Dharmendra and Sunny appeared together on screen for the first time in a film built around royal intrigue, revenge, and power struggles. The film itself is remembered as a typical 80s masala package. This film, however, received mixed reviews. It did not discourage the Deol family, and they continued making several films later, proving that family bonding could not be swayed by box office numbers.
Apne (2007) - The birth of the iconic father-son trio
Apne became the first film that featured the three Deols together, beginning a franchise that refused to shy away from the spotlight. This film became the emotional centre of the Deols’ on-screen story. Here, Dharmendra plays an ageing boxer who never got the respect and tries to win it back through his sons. Sunny and Bobby’s characters respond in different ways to this pressure, exploring emotions of resentment and eventual reconciliation. The emotions hit home - a real father asking for one more chance, and sons trying to carry the weight of love and anger at the same time. This film became a huge commercial hit, reviving Dharamji’s career in the industry.
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Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011) - The Deols’ entry into comedy and mass entertainment
Dharmendra and younger son Bobby play Dharam and Gajodhar, a father and son duo who were conmen.. Sunny’s Paramveer is an NRI from Canada who lands in India to track down his estranged father and younger brother. This movie was marketed as a comic and light-hearted film with hints of emotional kinship between the trio. It became a box office hit, introducing Dharmendra to a younger audience.
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013) - The iconic franchise in the making
The film doubled down on the cartoonish antics. It was a less grounded and louder version of the first film. Dharam and Gajodhar are still cons, this time circling a rich businessman’s family. Sunny’s Paramveer again plays the responsible older brother who gets dragged into the chaos. Although it received mixed reviews, it was loved by their fans.
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Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir se (2018) - End of the YPD franchise
Dharmendra plays Parmar, an ageing ayurvedic practitioner, with Sunny as Puran, the straight, protective elder brother, and Bobby is Kala, again the more carefree younger one. The film throws together broad, slapstick comedy, but the premise of the film falls short. Reviews were not great. What remained watchable was the chemistry between the three Deols.
Honourable mention: Poster Boys (2017)
This film featured both the sons, Sunny and Bobby and a cameo from their father, Dharmendra.
