Deepak Malhotra’s Bollywood debut had all the makings of a fairytale — a launch under the legendary Yash Chopra banner, sharing screen space with the iconic Sridevi, and stepping in as the romantic lead in Lamhe (1991), a film that was considered far ahead of its time. However, what should have been a launchpad for stardom turned into a career-defining misstep, all because of a single scene — and one infamous word: “Pallo.”Before venturing into films, Deepak was a force in the fashion world. Born in Bangalore in 1964, he was a national-level gymnast and a graduate of Christ University (1982–85). His athletic physique caught the attention of top fashion photographers, and by the late ’80s, he had established himself as India’s top male model. With a contract from Vimal Suitings and a then-unheard-of fee of Rs 1.5 lakh per shoot in 1987, Deepak was not just a face on billboards — he was a phenomenon.Naturally, film offers followed. He chose Yash Chopra’s Lamhe for his big screen debut, a romantic drama that starred Sridevi in a double role and featured actors like Anil Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, and Anupam Kher. Deepak played Siddharth, the quiet, composed lover of Sridevi’s character Pallavi. Unfortunately, his screen time was limited and his performance failed to make the desired impact. One particular moment — where his character tries to revive a fainting Pallavi, repeatedly calling out “Pallo” in a flat tone — became the subject of ridicule. Though memes didn’t exist back then, that moment became an early-‘90s pop culture punchline.The backlash was swift and brutal. Critics panned his performance, and the audience never forgot that scene. The damage was done. Deepak lost out on pivotal roles — he dropped out of the lead in Chamatkar (1992), a film that would go on to mark Shah Rukh Khan’s rise. He was reportedly also considered for Yash Chopra’s Darr, but was replaced by Sunny Deol after the Lamhe fallout. Other opportunities slipped away as well — Bekhudi went to Kamal Sadanah, Suryavanshi to Salman Khan, and Junoon to Rahul Roy.His only other release after Lamhe was Tejasvini, directed by N. Chandra, which also didn’t fare well at the box office. By 1993, Deepak Malhotra had exited the industry completely.Seeking a fresh start, he relocated to the United States, adopted a new name — Dino Martelli — and shifted his focus back to fashion. He studied industrial engineering and design and eventually transitioned into entrepreneurship, launching his own apparel brand in 2018. Now based in New York, he continues to lead the business as its principal.Deepak also found love in fellow fashion industry stalwart Lubna Adam, a former supermodel turned choreographer. The two got married and have two sons, Kian and Kyle, who have already made a mark in the fashion world by walking the ramp for Manish Malhotra.
