Abhay Deol has made his mark in Bollywood with mainstream but offbeat productions like Dev.D, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, and Shanghai. Even though he hails from acting royalty like the Deol family (Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sunny and Bobby Deol), he has often kept a relatively lower profile and not shied away from taking on more niche roles. These include crime dramas like Shanghai and Manorama Six Feet Under along with streaming releases like What Are The Odds.
If you wish to binge watch the very best of Abhay Deol, our guide shows you how and where to watch his best movies in India.
Which Abhay Deol movies should I watch first?
Abhay Deol has acted in both breezy romantic comedies and slightly edgier dramas. To watch his full range on his display, it’s better to get started with his more serious projects. Dev.D can be a good starting point. The Anurag Kashyap drama is a modern day retelling of the Bengali tragic novel Devdas (previously adapted in a Shah Rukh Khan movie of the same name) and has Deol playing a frustrated lover who turns to a life of alcoholism and self-destruction.
An equally impressive dramatic performance was in the crime thriller Manorama Six Feet Under that had Deol playing an obsessive detective. As the mystery deepens, he begins to lose a grip on his reality.
Talking about thrillers, Deol was also captivating to watch in Dibakar Banerjee’s Shanghai. The film investigated bureaucratic corruption in covering up a social activist’s death. Deol plays a government officer who wants to do everything by the books but questions his morals throughout the movie.
The crime genre has been a mainstay in Deol’s career even on a lighter note. A case in point is his first collaboration with Dibakar Banerjee: Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. The satirical comedy followed the stranger-than-fiction exploits of a real-life professional thief.
When it comes to Deol as a lead in romantic comedies, he has starred in the Imtiaz Ali collaborations Ahista Ahista (written by Ali) and Socha Na Tha (Ali’s directorial debut). He also starred alongside Sonam Kapoor in Aisha, the delightful adaptation of Clueless (which itself was based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma).
Despite his status as a lead actor, Deol doesn’t shy away from taking on supporting roles in ensemble-driven dramas and comedies. Some of his best performances include supporting roles in Zoya Akhtar’s buddy comedy Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and the Dhanush/Sonam Kapoor-starrer Raanjhanaa.
Has Abhay Deol acted in TV shows?
While Deol has had limited OTT credits, he gave a particularly memorable performance as a grieving father in the Netflix original Trial By Fire. The fact-based drama is based on the aftermath of a tragic fire that broke out in a Delhi cinema.
Why is Dev.D the best Abhay Deol movie to watch?
Abhay Deol gives a nuanced performance as a tragic lover in one of Anurag Kashyap’s best works. The themes of addiction and unrequited love are also brought out perfectly with a neon-lit colour scheme and Amit Trivedi’s bizarrely memorable music.
Where can you watch the best Abhay Deol movies online?
The list below shows you every platform on which you can watch, buy or rent the best Abhay Deol movies. We also provide you with offers to watch these movies online for free.
