2017 has been my best year in terms of popularity and returns-Varun Dhawan
8:03 AM
Riding high on two hits, Varun Dhawan takes stock of 2017 and plans for the new year
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 30, 2017)
As 2017 draws to a close Varun Dhawan is flying high with both Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 hitting bullseye at the box-office. “It’s been my best year in terms of popularity and returns,” the actor acknowledges, pointing out that Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Shashank Khaitan’s little big film in the Dulhania franchise, which released way back in March, is still memorable for its message of gender equality while Judwaa managed to recreate the magic of the Salman Khan original two decades later despite coming at a time when the Hindi film industry was going through a lull. “That added to the pressure but the numbers prove that the audience across the world wants to be entertained and a typical mainstream Hindi film will always run. Also, the single screen, small-town viewer is as important as the multiplex-going, Twitter-friendly filmgoer.”
The 30-year-old actor is one of the most commercially viable actors in Bollywood today but he refuses to let success go to his head, reasoning that the equation changes from one Friday to the next. “One flop and all the good work one has done in the past is wiped out in a flash, so I’m not going to think highly of myself. I’ll just savour the thought that my films are doing well, big directors are approaching me with good roles and a change is definitely happening professionally,” he smiles.
Varun begins the New Year hoping to stitch up another hit with Sharat Katariya’s Sui Dhaga-Made in India, a story set in a small town propagating self-respect and selfdependence. “Badrinath was a typical male chauvanist pig who redeemed himself in the end with the growing realisation that women should be respected as they can empower men. Many boys from small towns wrote to me saying Badrinath Ki Dulhania helped change their perspective. Hopefully, this film too will bring about a meaningful difference,” he says, excited to be pairing up with Anushka Sharma for the first time and raving about her filmography.
At the moment the man with the Midas touch is on a much-needed break, having just wrapped up Shoojt Sircar’s October. Top of his agenda is to catch up on workouts before his next film kicks off in February.
“While shooting for October, Shoojit da didn’t let me work out for all of two months keeping the character’s requirements in mind. Now I’m dying to hit the gym and get back to my baniyan look,” admits the actor who’s just moved into his new home designed by mom Karuna. “I’m getting used to living in a new place, finding myself favourite nooks where I can read scripts, rehearse my lines and watch movies. I’ve finally got a lot of space to myself so during Christmas I did not go out partying but stayed at home opening presents,” he reveals with a grin.
After six years, Varun still has fond memories of his debut film, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, and is confident that the sequel being directed by Punit Malhotra and featuring Tiger Shroff, will be another good film. “It’s too early to talk about it. Having gone through it with ABCD 2 and Judwaa 2, I don’t want to put any added pressure on Tiger. He’s a talented actor and I’m sure he’ll do a great job,” he asserts with conviction.
Meanwhile, he is happy playing big brother to KJo’s twins, Yash and Roohi, the cutest babies he has ever seen. “Karan is a different person around them. I wish I could protect them from getting papped all the time,” Varun sighs, equally miffed with trolls who target him on the social media. “They are bored people with a lot of free time on their hands. They don’t bother me much but I feel sad for them.”
The audience has loved his pairing with Alia Bhatt and Jacqueline Fernandez and Varun hopes to team up with both actresses again. “I’ve worked with Jacqueline twice, she’s a fireball of energy and talent, and thrice with Alia with whom I started my journey and now have the Dulhania franchise. Both are special. Maybe all three of us will come together soon, you never know,” he says enigmatically. Is he talking about the Biwi No. 1 sequel? Varun’s eyes take on a twinkle as he gets even more evasive,“Biwi No 1 is still just a rumour, I’ve done two films with dad (David Dhawan) and would love to do a third, but it could just be a completely original film this time.”
What he does reveal is that there’s a film with a big production house to be mounted on a lavish canvas, and one with his ABCD 2 director Remo D’souza in the pipeline, no details forthcoming. Varun loves playing mystery man.
As 2017 draws to a close Varun Dhawan is flying high with both Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 hitting bullseye at the box-office. “It’s been my best year in terms of popularity and returns,” the actor acknowledges, pointing out that Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Shashank Khaitan’s little big film in the Dulhania franchise, which released way back in March, is still memorable for its message of gender equality while Judwaa managed to recreate the magic of the Salman Khan original two decades later despite coming at a time when the Hindi film industry was going through a lull. “That added to the pressure but the numbers prove that the audience across the world wants to be entertained and a typical mainstream Hindi film will always run. Also, the single screen, small-town viewer is as important as the multiplex-going, Twitter-friendly filmgoer.”
The 30-year-old actor is one of the most commercially viable actors in Bollywood today but he refuses to let success go to his head, reasoning that the equation changes from one Friday to the next. “One flop and all the good work one has done in the past is wiped out in a flash, so I’m not going to think highly of myself. I’ll just savour the thought that my films are doing well, big directors are approaching me with good roles and a change is definitely happening professionally,” he smiles.
Varun begins the New Year hoping to stitch up another hit with Sharat Katariya’s Sui Dhaga-Made in India, a story set in a small town propagating self-respect and selfdependence. “Badrinath was a typical male chauvanist pig who redeemed himself in the end with the growing realisation that women should be respected as they can empower men. Many boys from small towns wrote to me saying Badrinath Ki Dulhania helped change their perspective. Hopefully, this film too will bring about a meaningful difference,” he says, excited to be pairing up with Anushka Sharma for the first time and raving about her filmography.
At the moment the man with the Midas touch is on a much-needed break, having just wrapped up Shoojt Sircar’s October. Top of his agenda is to catch up on workouts before his next film kicks off in February.
“While shooting for October, Shoojit da didn’t let me work out for all of two months keeping the character’s requirements in mind. Now I’m dying to hit the gym and get back to my baniyan look,” admits the actor who’s just moved into his new home designed by mom Karuna. “I’m getting used to living in a new place, finding myself favourite nooks where I can read scripts, rehearse my lines and watch movies. I’ve finally got a lot of space to myself so during Christmas I did not go out partying but stayed at home opening presents,” he reveals with a grin.
After six years, Varun still has fond memories of his debut film, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, and is confident that the sequel being directed by Punit Malhotra and featuring Tiger Shroff, will be another good film. “It’s too early to talk about it. Having gone through it with ABCD 2 and Judwaa 2, I don’t want to put any added pressure on Tiger. He’s a talented actor and I’m sure he’ll do a great job,” he asserts with conviction.
Meanwhile, he is happy playing big brother to KJo’s twins, Yash and Roohi, the cutest babies he has ever seen. “Karan is a different person around them. I wish I could protect them from getting papped all the time,” Varun sighs, equally miffed with trolls who target him on the social media. “They are bored people with a lot of free time on their hands. They don’t bother me much but I feel sad for them.”
The audience has loved his pairing with Alia Bhatt and Jacqueline Fernandez and Varun hopes to team up with both actresses again. “I’ve worked with Jacqueline twice, she’s a fireball of energy and talent, and thrice with Alia with whom I started my journey and now have the Dulhania franchise. Both are special. Maybe all three of us will come together soon, you never know,” he says enigmatically. Is he talking about the Biwi No. 1 sequel? Varun’s eyes take on a twinkle as he gets even more evasive,“Biwi No 1 is still just a rumour, I’ve done two films with dad (David Dhawan) and would love to do a third, but it could just be a completely original film this time.”
What he does reveal is that there’s a film with a big production house to be mounted on a lavish canvas, and one with his ABCD 2 director Remo D’souza in the pipeline, no details forthcoming. Varun loves playing mystery man.
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