Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 2, 2018)

Years ago, Varun Sharma had come to Mumbai to fulfil his dream of becoming an actor. It was a huge step for the Jalandhar boy, to leave his family and friends back home in Chandigarh, and pursue a career in Bollywood.

Today, Varun has scripted his success story on the big screen, and he says that he loves every bit of this city — which he refers to as his home and karmbhoomi. He says, “People make a city, it’s not the other way round. It is the vibe of a city that makes it unique. Mumbai and its people are full of warmth and love — it has the best qualities of all the cities in India. People from across the country come here to fulfil their dreams. Look at the film industry — it has talents from different parts of the country, speaking different languages and belonging to different cultures, collaborating to entertain the whole of India.”

Ask him how he flirts with the city, and Varun says that he loves exploring the by-lanes of Mumbai in his car. He says, “Driving in the city rejuvenates me.” The actor loves Mumbai’s monsoon as well — especially going out for a stroll in the rains and munching on bhutta. He tells us, “If North Indians rave about their winters, we have our monsoon. When I am not shooting, I sit in my balcony with a cuppa and some pakodas. What better way to enjoy rains than lazing around in your house and admiring nature.”

Talking about his early days in the city, Varun recalls his special association with Carter Road. He had landed in Mumbai a few days ahead of India’s historic cricket World Cup win in 2011. After the match, he stepped out with his sister on Carter Road, as the celebrations shifted from people’s living rooms to the streets of Mumbai.

Little did he know then that this stroll would get him to meet Shah Rukh Khan in person! Varun recollects, “We were celebrating our win with ice cream. Suddenly, a car pulled over and the next thing I see is Shah Rukh Khan emerging out of the sun roof and waving at the crowd. He has always been my inspiration and he was the reason I had come to Mumbai. At that point, I didn’t know that I would be working with him in Dilwale.”

Bungalows of famous stars are definitely an attraction for aspiring actors and during his initial days here, Varun would often stand outside his favourite actors’ bungalows. The other popular landmarks he feels a strong connect with are Mehboob Studio and Aaram Nagar. He explains, “As a child, whenever I heard news about the film industry, I would particularly be fascinated by the word Mehboob Studio. So, I made it a point to see it after I landed here. Araam Nagar is special for obvious reasons, as every aspiring actor goes through rounds of auditions there.”

The actor says that he loves being a part of the madness, warmth and chaos of Mumbai. “Outsiders feel that one can easily get lost in Mumbai. But when you join the madness, you realise the immense love and great opportunities it offers. This city will never let you sleep on an empty stomach if you are willing to work hard. My family was a bundle of nerves when I was coming here, but the journey has been fruitful and beautiful,” says the actor, adding, “Nothing beats the street food in Mumbai. My favourite haunts are Amar Juice centre for the late-night pav bhaji and dosa. I also frequent South Mumbai for its amazing food joints.”