Disbelief, gratitude, joy— Varun Sharma admits he has been a mixed bag of emotions over the past few days. His latest release Fukrey 3 has become a hit, earning almost Rs 85 crore at the domestic box office.

“On one hand, there is immense gratitude for the overwhelming love, and on the other hand, there is disbelief that this is happening to me. Fukrey is more special than other films to me because it gives the sense that life has come a long way,” beams the actor.

It has been a commendable journey for Sharma, who burst on the scene as Choocha, the pudgy, goofy character in the buddy comedy, Fukrey (2013). He shone brighter with his impeccable comic timing in big-ticket films like Dilwale (2015) and Chhichhore (2019). But his success stands for something bigger.

In showbiz where perfection takes centre-stage, Sharma is the kind of hero we need more of—one who doesn’t subscribe to the idea of six-pack abs or machismo. He believes that his trajectory, from being the side-kick to securing the lead role in Fukrey 3, is testament to the fact that most Indian men look like and identify with him. “I realized early on that perfection is overrated. Being imperfect can be incredibly beautiful too.”

The actor says that early on in his career, people would often remind of his imperfections. He was told that his gap-toothed smile and weight issues would be hindrances in the glamour-obsessed industry. But the artiste in him knew better.

“It’s an industry of artistes. Shouldn’t your ability to act well be the most important thing? I embraced my gap-toothed smile and my struggles with weight, knowing that many out there could relate to them. Men have told me that women in their lives see me as the alternative over the hyper-masculine imagery we have created in pop culture. I was always called a softie, and I am. I am happy being the funny, affable guy in movies. This norm of what a Bollywood hero should be has changed drastically. I don’t have six-pack abs, and I am hoping we build a world for our men where being all heart counts as much as physical appearance.”