Supermodel Deepak Malhotra’s promising Bollywood debut in “Lamhe” took an unexpected turn, leading him to leave India, change his name, and build a new life abroad after facing immense criticism for a brief scene.
From India’s Top Model to Bollywood Hopeful
Deepak Malhotra was a prominent figure in India’s modeling scene during the 1980s. Born in Bangalore in 1964, he was a national-level gymnast before completing his studies.
His lean and athletic build quickly made him a top choice for fashion photographers. By the late 80s, he had become a supermodel across the country, famously signing a contract with Vimal Suitings.
Reportedly, he was India’s highest-paid model, commanding a significant Rs 1.5 lakh per assignment in 1987, a remarkable sum for the era.
A Dream Debut Turned Nightmare in “Lamhe”
With his modeling success, film offers began to pour in. Deepak chose “Lamhe” (1991), directed by the legendary Yash Chopra and starring Sridevi, as his acting debut. The film also featured Anil Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, and Anupam Kher.
“Lamhe” was a romantic drama considered ahead of its time, with Sridevi playing a dual role as mother (Pallavi) and daughter (Pooja). Deepak portrayed Siddharth, Pallavi’s love interest and husband.
However, the film struggled at the box office. More critically for Deepak, his performance received harsh criticism, particularly for a short, ten-second scene.
The Infamous ‘Pallo’ Moment
The scene in question involved his character, Siddharth, trying to revive a fainting Pallavi (Sridevi), with his monotone delivery of the dialogue “Pallo” becoming the subject of widespread ridicule. This moment quickly entered pop culture and became a common joke in the early 90s, even before the age of social media trolling.
This single scene effectively derailed his promising film career. Despite being considered for major roles that later went to stars like Shah Rukh Khan (“Chamatkar”) and Salman Khan (“Suryavanshi”), offers dried up completely.
He was even in contention for a role in Yash Chopra’s “Darr,” but the negative response to his “Lamhe” performance led to him being replaced by Sunny Deol.
A New Life as Dino Martelli
By 1993, with no significant film offers left, Deepak Malhotra made the difficult decision to leave Bollywood. After his only other film, “Tejasvini,” also tanked, he moved to the United States.
To completely distance himself from his past in Indian cinema, he changed his name to Dino Martelli. In the US, he continued modeling briefly and pursued studies in industrial engineering and design.
He eventually transitioned into entrepreneurship, focusing on the garment industry. He also reportedly started a family with former supermodel-turned-choreographer Lubna Adam.
Where is Deepak Malhotra Now?
Deepak, now known as Dino Martelli, has been living in New York for many years. In 2018, he founded his own apparel brand and currently serves as its principal.
He is married to Lubna and they have two sons, Kian and Kyle. Interestingly, his sons have also dabbled in modeling, following in their father’s footsteps by modeling for designer Manish Malhotra a few years ago.
- Deepak Malhotra was a top Indian supermodel in the 1980s.
- His Bollywood debut in Yash Chopra’s “Lamhe” (1991) was a critical failure for his acting.
- A 10-second scene and the dialogue “Pallo” led to widespread ridicule and career downfall.
- He left India, changed his name to Dino Martelli, and moved to the US.
- He is now a successful garment entrepreneur in New York, married with two sons.
Deepak’s story is a stark reminder of how quickly public perception can change a career, and how reinvention can lead to a fulfilling new path.
