Abhay Deol is the cousin of Bollywood stars Sunny and Bobby Deol and nephew of actor Dharmendra.
While his cousins are known for their action roles, Abhay Deol made his debut as a soft-hearted and confused lover in Socha Na Tha, in which his performance was appreciated despite the failure of the film at the box office.
He tasted some success with Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, where he played a superhero.
He continued to experiment with unconventional films such as Ahista Ahista, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local and Manorma Six Feet Under.
None of these productions really worked but all of them won him critical acclaim.
Ironically, all his films were made by debutant directors. But in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, he plays a conman under Dibaker Banerjee's direction.
He will next be seen as a drug-addict lover in the contemporary version of Devdas, called Dev D.
Favourite holiday destination: Barcelona
I enjoy being at the beach and Barcelona has some of the best in the world. The beaches of Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta are great places to chill out. But Barcelona is not only about beaches, it has a good lifestyle, with frequent musical and cultural events.
Anybody interested in the arts, theatre and museums has enough to do in this city, thanks to the city's rich cultural heritage, which is evident in the architecture as well.
There are also some fantastic parks and the best among these is the Montjuic Park, located on a mountain. Overall, Barcelona is great place to relax and have fun in.
Memorable moments in Barcelona
The serene moments at the beach.
What not to do in Barcelona
Do not go there without a good companion, as it's no fun being all alone in such a place.
Three must-haves on a holiday
Credit card, local map and a girlfriend!
Any other favourite destination?
I have always been fascinated by Thailand. I will hopefully be visiting the country shortly.
— Abdulla Mahmood is a UAE-based freelance writer
