Abhay Deol

Personal context

Summary

Abhay Deol is an Indian actor and producer known for independent and mainstream Hindi films including Manorama Six Feet Under, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Dev.D and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. He has repeatedly spoken publicly about social issues: he challenged fairness-cream advertising as reinforcing colour and caste bias, discussed patriarchy and sexism, and called attention to discrimination faced by migrants, minorities and poor people in India. He has also criticized hyper-nationalism in films and described his approach to sexuality as resisting fixed labels, saying he does not define his sexuality. Deol has said he is an actor rather than an activist, while acknowledging that he uses his public platform to draw attention to causes.