Sunny Deol with Karan during the promotions of Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas.
Highlights
- "I was so embarrassed," said Karan Deol
- Karan Deol said his mother supported him all through
- Karan Deol stars in Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, directed by Sunny Deol
Actor Sunny Deol's son Karan Deol is all set for his Bollywood debut with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas but before keeping his date with cinephiles in theatres, Karan opened about up being bullied by students and teachers when he was young. Karan Deol, 28, speaking to Humans Of Bombay revealed that he was "bullied, ridiculed and identified as nothing else but 'Sunny Deol's son'" when he was in school and how he broke out of his superstar father's image. Karan Deol recounted that during a school event, some of his seniors 'picked him up and smacked him down' in front of everyone and asked him if he was really Sunny Deol's son.
"The first memory I have of school, was when I was in first grade. We had a sports competition and I was taking part in a race. I was standing there, when suddenly a few older boys surrounded me. One of them lifted me up, and in front of everyone, smacked me down. He then asked me, 'Are you sure you're Sunny Deol's son? You can't even fight back'. I was so embarrassed," Karan Deol said.
Teachers were no help either. Karan said, "Once when I didn't do well in an assignment, in the middle of the class, a teacher came up to me and said, 'You're only capable of writing your dad's cheques, and nothing else'."
Karan said that his mother Pooja Deol supported him throughout this phase. Karan Deol also said he finally broke out of his father's image later when he rapped at the school's talent show. Speaking about the 'turning point,' Karan said, "I remember walking up on that stage, and there was a sea of people, with all eyes on me... But I took a deep breath, and performed my heart out. All the years of being bullied, of being ridiculed, of being identified as nothing else but 'Sunny Deol's son', came out when I was up on that stage. The audience was cheering me on too -- I felt so liberated; like I'd finally broken free from the shackles."
Read Karan Deol's story here:
"The first memory I have of school, was when I was in 1st grade. We had a sports competition and I was taking part in a race. I was standing there, when suddenly a few older boys surrounded me. One of them lifted me up, and in front of everyone, smacked me down. He then asked me, 'Are you sure you're Sunny Deol's son? You can't even fight back'. I was so embarrassed. It didn't get any easier from there. Most kids would either judge me or make fun of me, and even the teachers were the same. Once when I didn't do well in an assignment, in the middle of the class, a teacher came up to me and said, 'You're only capable of writing your dad's cheques, and nothing else.' My mom was my only support through all of this, she kept telling me, 'They're saying these things because that's how they are as people, it says nothing about you.' And that kept me going. It was tough but I had to stand up for myself, and answer back instead of giving up and backing down. I had to understand that no one else, but me had the right to decide my worth. I think my turning point was when my school was hosting a talent competition, and I decided to take part. I realised that this was a chance to prove myself. I spent night after night, preparing a rap -- because that's the only thing I knew I was good at. On the day, I remember walking up on that stage, and there was a sea of people, with all eyes on me. But I took a deep breath, and performed my heart out. All the years of being bullied, of being ridiculed, of being identified as nothing else but 'Sunny Deol's son', came out when I was up on that stage. The audience was cheering me on too -- I felt so liberated; like I'd finally broken free from the shackles. It took time, but that moment changed my life. I realised that sometimes, it doesn't take people, and situations, to make your life better. It takes a strong belief in yourself, the power to see yourself for who you are, and not the way others want you to be. You're not made to fit into moulds, you're made to create your own identity -- one that's unlike anybody else's."
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Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas features newcomer Sahher Bambba opposite Karan Deol. The film is directed by Sunny Deol and it will open in cinemas on September 20.