Today, when you hear the name Deepak Dobriyal, you instantly think of brilliance—an actor who elevates every role and transforms characters into something entirely unexpected. He first earned widespread recognition with his performance as Rajju in the 2006 film Omkara and later with Tanu Weds Manu in 2011. Over the years, he has cemented his place as one of the most dependable and powerful character actors in the industry. But long before this success, Deepak grew up with little and there was a time when Deepak simply dreamed of earning Rs 1 lakh. When that day finally arrived, he didn’t just change his own life but also the lives of his closest friends.
Actor Manu Rishi Chadha, who shares a deep and emotional bond with Deepak, recently opened up about the actor’s generosity and the life-changing help he once offered to him and a friend who was terminally ill.
Speaking to podcast Scene Kya Hai, Manu Rishi said, “Deepak Dobriyal and I came from two very different financial backgrounds. He was the son of a government employee, and I was the son of a shopkeeper. I always had money on me, and he rarely did. He once told me, ‘The day I earn Rs 1 lakh, Chadha, I will consider myself a star!’”
He continued, “And then that moment finally came—Deepak received that amount, and his life began to change. At that time, I barely had a rupee on me. I called him and asked, ‘Did you get your payment for the ad?’ He could have lied, but he didn’t. He immediately said yes. I asked him for Rs 10,000, and he sent it instantly. Then he asked, ‘Do you have to pay your rent?’ I told him no—I actually wanted to buy fancy shoes and clothes!”
Manu Rishi then recalled an even more emotional moment—when Deepak went above and beyond to help a friend battling liver failure.
“There was a time when one of our friends suffered a liver failure,” he said. “All of us came together to try and raise the money for his treatment. I called Deepak and explained the situation. He immediately remembered how this same friend had stood by him during his toughest days. He asked, ‘How much does he need?’ I said, ‘Rs 25 lakh.’ Without hesitating, he replied, ‘I’ll pay the entire amount.’ And within five minutes, he transferred Rs 25 lakh.”
