Deol first, briefly appeared as a child actor in the 1977 film "Dharam Veer" and made his acting career debut as an adult in "Barsaat" (1995) which garnered him the Filmfare Best Debut Award. Subsequently, he appeared in several commercially successful films including "Gupt" (1997), "Soldier" (1998), "Badal" (2000), "Bichhoo" (2000), "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya" (2000), "Ajnabee" (2001), "Humraaz" (2002) for which he was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award, "Barsaat" (2005), "Apne" (2007) and "Yamla Pagla Deewana" (2011). His other notable work includes "Kareeb" (1998), "Dillagi" (1999), "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo" (2004), and "Players" (2011).