Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 21, 2020)

“One needs many ups and downs to be the person one is. The different phases in life shape you as a person,” says actor Sidharth Shukla, adding, “Every phase in my life has taught me something. Good days don’t make me and bad days don’t break me. One doesn’t have control over anything, so trying to control what is not in your hands is pointless. Situations in life change with time and one should believe that things will be fine and keep at it. I face every challenge head on.”

Recently, when the team of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) celebrated six years of release, Shukla’s fans pointed out that though it was his debut film, he wasn’t tagged in the tweets by the cast or the production house. But he says that he’s fine with it. “The leads of the movie deserve credit for the film and I understand where the producers come from. At the end of the day, you need validation from the audience. It felt wonderful that people remembered me after six years of its release,” adds the 39-year-old actor.

Though he was appreciated, Shukla wasn’t seen in more movies. Ask him about his movie career and he says, “I expect to do good work. As long as I am working, the medium doesn’t matter. For me, it is important to keep working which I have been doing, and I am happy.”

On actors from TV getting opportunities in films, he states, “It is not a problem of potential but one gets what one deserves. If someone thought a project wasn’t good for me, that’s okay. I am happy that there has been no lull at the work front.” Recently, he shot for two music videos which have been received well. He says, “It is fun and a good way to connect with my fans. Earlier, people loved me for my on screen characters and now, they love the real me. The validation from people is quite satisfying.”

Months after Rannbhoomi was pushed, Badrinath director Shashank Khaitan puts actioner with Varun Dhawan on the backburner
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 29, 2019)

Close on the heels of Dhadak's (2018) release, director Shashank Khaitan had announced that he was reuniting with his favourite actor Varun Dhawan for an espionage thriller. Touted as an ambitious action entertainer, the film was to be backed by Karan Johar, thus completing the troika behind the Dulhania series. However, in the latest development, the project — which was to go on floors this year — has been put on the backburner as the director has not been able to crack the script. Interestingly, their epic war saga, Rannbhoomi, was pushed to make way for the thriller.

Confirming the news, Khaitan tells mid-day, "I had cracked a great first half, but I botched things up in the second half. Since there is so much great material coming out [from the industry], I felt that if I don't have anything new to say, I shouldn't say it. So as of now, I have put the film on the backburner."

While it would be convenient for him to imagine a third instalment after Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), the filmmaker doesn't want to cash in on the franchise without a strong script. "It's a franchise that has been loved. So, Karan, Alia [Bhatt], Varun and I are conscious that we don't want to do it just for the money. If I come across a script that naturally lends itself to the franchise, we will do it."

For now, he is enjoying his stint as a judge on the second season of Dance Deewane. "I like its unique concept of having three different generations competing," he says.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; March 25, 2017)

He featured as Poplu as Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and won everyone’s hearts. Now, Sahil Vaid is back, with the second part of the franchise, Badrinath Ki Dulhania. The talented actor opens up about his experience of working on this film and with Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. He explains why he calls Alia ‘baby Naseeruddin Shah’ and also reveals about his stint as a voiceover artist. Over to Sahil…

How excited are you for Badrinath Ki Dulhania? You just tweeted wherein you wrote that ‘just 8 days to go for the greatest show on earth’!
Yes, I’ve been quite excited although I am trying my best to contain my happiness. Just 8 days are left and it’s really exciting. We shot for the film for around 10 months ago and though it was quite comfortable, it was very hectic too. I myself haven’t seen the film. I’ll finally watch it on Saturday.

You were quite entertaining as Poplu in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. What should we expect from you this time, apart from your new hairstyle?
To begin with, my speech. Our characters are based in Jhansi and obviously, we aren’t really speaking in authentic Jhansli waali Hindi since audiences wouldn’t have understood it fully. Also, I am 6 kgs lighter than Paplu! Moreover, this time, my character is not jobless. He runs a website. To know what exactly it is, you’ll have to see the film!



Since you are originally from the North, was it slightly easier for you than Varun to slip into your character?
Not just slightly, it was very easier than Varun. My naniji is from Agra and so, I have a knack of understanding Hindi spoken in these parts. But we had to be careful because Jhansi ki UP accent will be different from Agra ki UP accent or Kanpur and so on. It’s quite complicated actually especially in the border areas of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

In a recent interview, you called Alia Bhatt ‘Baby Naseeruddin Shah’. What made you say that?
I have worked with Naseeruddin Shah when I was doing theatre and the amount of dedication that Alia puts in reminds me of him. She’ll quietly do her homework and surprise everyone with her brilliant work. She’s highly disciplined.

Was it easier with Varun this time as the ice was already broken during Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania?
Yes and it was Shashank who helped broke the ice. He was kind enough to understand that we both don’t know each other and it will be awkward for both of us. Hence, he did the needful. Post Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, me and Varun Dhawan kept in touch. It’s great fun to work with him. Varun ke saath kaam karke hamesha mazaa aata hai.



Tell us about your experience of falling from the jet ski. The making video was quite hilarious.
Well, the experience of falling in the water was more fun than dangerous, despite the presence of crocodiles. My first thought after falling in the water was that, ‘I told you, Varun’! Varun however was quite apologetic and helped me get back on the jet ski. After changing and getting back on the jet ski, I fell again in the water and this time Varun too fell. The entire unit was cracking up!

Your role in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was appreciated a lot along with the film as a whole. How did your life change?
Strangely, a lot of people felt that the success of the first part was a fluke and that we won’t be lucky the second time. We’ll be taken seriously only when Badrinath Ki Dulhania also emerges successful. Talking about my life, well, people started recognizing me a lot once the film was out. 4-5 months after the film, I thought I had arrived but later, I got a reality check. So it was quite a learning experience.

But at the same time, do you feel lucky that Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was backed by Dharma Productions because of which the film reached to a lot of people?
Absolutely and I was quite lucky. There are lots of good actors around and I could have got lost in the midst. It’s thanks to Dharma that they marketed the film well. However, it’s all thanks really to Shashank (Shashank Khaitan, director). He was my senior and we have done theatre together. He helped me get the role though he did audition me left, right and center. Later, producer Karan Johar liked my audition and that’s how I bagged the part. Interestingly, I didn’t audition for Badrinath Ki Dulhania at all. Shashank called me and said that he has written a role especially for me! But the sad part was that my father passed away 2 days after I got this role.

Which are the other films in the pipeline?
I am a part of Y-Films’ Bank Chor. It should release this year. I have also done a cameo in Maniesh Paul-starrer Baa Baa Black Sheep.

You are also a voiceover artist and you recently dubbed for the upcoming Hollywood biggie Beauty And The Beast. Comment.
Oh yes and it was a great experience. Beauty And The Beast is a superbly made film. This was the biggest dubbing project that I have been a part of. At the same time, I have also dubbed for Kong: Skull Island which co-incidentally releases on March 10, the same day as Badrinath Ki Dulhania!

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 26, 2017)

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 8, 2016)

Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; January 28, 2016)

Karan Johar’s long-in-the-making ambitious project, Shhuddhi has hit many a hurdle after it was announced in early 2013. Casting issues led to periodic speculations about the film being shelved, but when Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan came on board a few months ago, things were looking up.

However, bad luck seems to have caught up with KJo again with reliable sources suggesting that Shhuddhi has finally been dropped since there was no progress in the project.

Says a source close to Karan’s production house, “No work has been done on the film. It has gone through many casting changes and every time a new actor came on board, the script had to be reworked to suit their personality. Apart from that, KJo wasn’t too confident about handing the directorial baton to Karan Malhotra since the latter’s last film (Brothers) didn’t do well.”

As per reports, the budget was also one of the reasons for the makers rethinking taking the film on floors. During a media interaction last August, the filmmaker got upset when he was asked about the film. “Oh my god, oh my god, I am folding my hands and bowing down to you all, stop asking me questions about Shuddhi. I don’t know what kind of bad omen the movie is going through, I am not able to make it,” he had said. There was buzz that dates given to the production house by Alia and Varun will be adjusted for the sequel of KJo’s 2014 hit Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania starring the duo.

The filmmaker remained unavailable for comment, while the source adds: “Varun, who had stopped signing films to focus on Shuddhi, is now scouring for challenging scripts, indicating that the film has been shelved. He is now busy with other projects — his brother Rohit Dhawan’s Dishoom to be followed by a gangster flick. Alia, too, will shortly begin shooting with Shah Rukh Khan for Gauri Shinde’s next.”

Varun Dhawan on why he needs to work every single day
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; July 1, 2015)

It’s 11 am and Varun Dhawan is seated in his parlour answering my 80,000 questions. Before he strolls in, his dad David Dhawan and I talk about his latest film. The proud papa cannot hide his excitement over his son’s soon-to-be Rs 100 crore film. His mom Lali peers in after a few minutes to see her laadla, currently on a high with five hits in a row.  Here, Varun talks about film, friends, and his father. Read on...

Five consecutive hits is a pretty impressive record. You’ve already joined the elite league. Feeling elated?
Honestly, I am feeling the same as no one is treating me any different.  It’s not like my mom treats me differently… (as if on cue, she pops her head in the glass door to check on him) Look, there she is! (Smiles). Everyone who is close to me is the same with me so I don’t know how to feel. I do know obviously that these five have done well and it’s something that doesn’t happen to everyone and I feel elated about that obviously. It feels extremely good, extremely amazing, but the way people are telling me about ABCD 2 is very different. Aisa hota hai ki people say ‘Arre yaar congratulations, your film has this much business and your film is too good.’ The reactions I am getting is that “Arre yaar, teri picture chal gayi.” I think people themselves are shocked.  So I am getting the shock wala congratulations right now.

That’s funny.
No one expected it to open and no one expected it to sustain, so I guess it, it’s a good shock.  See I want everyone’s films to run, I want all good films to run. I was so happy when Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Piku ran. We should want films to do well, that’s the way we can go ahead. I guess with ABCD 2, the audience has made this film, they have supported it from the beginning. 

The trade believes your huge popularity with kids is a major reason behind the response to the film. Do you agree?
I would have said kids like a year back but I think it’s families now.

I  think it is your crazy female fan following.
It can’t be only women. I want to believe it’s families which like a film like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. And a film like Badlapur, men saw that film. I don’t know… I think it’s a mixed bag because I have done a mixed bag of films. But I know for sure that ABCD 2 has run because of families. I am very clear. I did ABCD 2 for children. Consciously, it had to come after Badlapur because children couldn’t see a film like Badlapur, so I was like ‘No, I have to do a film for them because they have given me so much love and they have supported me.’

Wooing families, is that your dad’s influence, does he tell you what films you should do?
Dad has made family films throughout his career but he doesn’t tell me what films to do. No one tells me what films to do. Out of the five films that I have done right now, three have been his kind of films.  Obviously, I have Karan (Johar) as well who I discuss my films with and my brother Rohit. I actually discuss what film to do with everyone including my driver. I will ask him also ke ‘kya lagta tere ko’. I’ll tell him the whole story and then he will tell me his view.  I ask everyone. It’s just that my dad will obviously like certain type of films because at the end of the day I am his son, so he will be protective. But as an actor, if I have to pick different films, I have to understand the psyche of all different types of people also.

Which film of yours is his favourite?
He loves Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

There will be pressure to deliver a hit now, right?
More than a hit, delivering a good film. For me, that’s most important. I think, with ABCD 2 also, what happened is that nobody expected it to turn out like that. Nobody expected Badlapur to work, for example. So, I guess, I’ve been part of films that people didn’t expect to do as well as they have.

Badlapur could have a limited audience. Why do you say that about ABCD 2?
There was rain on the first day, it was also releasing in the Ramzan period, there were lot of, like people kept saying ‘Yeh nahi accha hai, woh nahi accha hai.’ And even our marketing was different because budgets were limited.

I think if a film has to work, it will work irrespective.
Exactly. According to me honestly, your first trailer, if it connects with people, more than half your job is done. And that’s what’s it’s all about today.

But how do you gauge if a trailer does well or not given that likes and views on social media can be bought?
People tell you whether they liked it or not. For example, the Badlapur teaser that’s the best reaction I have ever got for any of my films. More reaction to me,  I guess the whole trailer…. It was cut very creatively, the whole murder thing, the hammer shot in it, then the shots of Nawaz  and all the characters, it was a very interestingly cut teaser and I think on that very day, when that teaser came out, everyone told me that this film will run.

Are you in celebratory mode?
No, I am leaving for Bulgaria tonight. I don’t have time to think to be very honest, that’s it. There is no time to enjoy. Yesterday, I was rehearsing for the song I am doing for Rohit Shetty’s film Dilwale, I mean that’s fun for me as well, I enjoy that. I had two days off and I was like tearing my hair out. I can’t explain to you, it was like a downer. I got bored sitting, I just couldn’t sit doing nothing. I needed to do some work and I am actually excited that I am going to Bulgaria today. I just couldn’t. It was very scary and dangerous but I was getting very agitated. I don’t know maybe because I’ve not sat at home since such a long time, I couldn’t handle it.

Even the industry is shocked with the staggering response to ABCD 2. It’s expected to reach the Rs 100-crore mark soon. Did you anticipate this?
I mean there were talks. People would joke about it. But dance films haven’t really done well in India.  Especially in the north, they don’t do well. This one did very well in Delhi and lot of other places like UP and CP. A lot of people who saw the film and say that this will happen (the film reaching Rs 100 crore).  Siddharth Roy Kapur was one of them, Karan Johar saw the film alone in a hall and he said that this film is going to be big. I think Remo, and I were on the fence, we didn’t know what to expect.

ABCD (Part 1) was a success, but not really a big franchise. What made you pick the sequel?
Because I saw something in the first one. I saw a lot of honesty and a lot of heart in it, and also it was something different. Also, with Badlapur, I felt that the film was  part of a change and I said I want to be part of this. (Laughs) I don’t want to give all the reasons because I don’t want the other people to read and then start using them and doing these kind of films. No, but seriously, I feel honestly  the mindset of the audience at large is changing and by that I don’t mean they don’t want to see a typical Hindi film, they obviously want to see that but there is a certain evolution that needs to happen in cinema which they want to see slowly.  Badlapur was totally like almost tearing the envelope, not even pushing it. But they accepted it which was a big shock to everyone. Then we saw a Haider running with a crazy theme in that. So time and again you get these films which run, that just shows that there is a  section of the audience who wants to see films like that. You see a Queen, you see a Piku and I feel women are leading this change actually. Women are totally leading this change and they are the ones who are inspiring me to pick up films like that.

Same reason for Badlapur?
Badlapur was based on a true life incident of a man.  It was totally true about this man whose family was taken away from him and how he could not get over it and I totally in a strange way identified with that man.  If someone did this to my family. I think anyone who has kids... I don’t but I have so many brothers, I have so many friends who have small children and if anything happens to their child suddenly from that meek family man, I see them turning into this crazy man. I have seen that in small incidents. The idea was to play it in a more realistic sense.

But it was taking a huge risk….
It was a risk, 100 per cent it was a risk. But every film is a risk.

Not all, your next film Dilwale is a monster hit on paper, even before the first day of shooting.
I hope so, I pray so.  But everything is a risk. I know Badlapur, a lot of people will say that was not the right film to take on. But I feel you can’t only attach money to art.  It’s a very wrong thing to do.  I think Sriram is one of the most brilliant heads we have in our industry. Anil Mehta was shooting the film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui was acting in the film. Look at the cast, there were only national award winners, I was the only one who has not won an award. I had only to gain from that film and plus it was made at a decent budget.

There were people who told you ‘don’t do this film’.
Everyone told me don’t do the film. Not one person said do the film. I just believed in the story. I think Dinesh Vijan had a big hand in that as well. Badlapur is an experience I will never give up for anything in the world. I am looking for something to push, to do something new, to tell a story which people think should not be told.

Do you read film reviews?
I feel you need to know different views, and I do read the reviews. There are some very funny ones of ABCD 2 also some, great ones. Then I read that one and half minute review which was very cool. Then there were couple of, very bad ones also, which were very fun to read. I think you should read because sometimes I feel a certain way about my performance and then a critic points  it out and then I am like ‘I am not the only one who is feeling this that I did this wrong, that person also felt it.’

A lot of ABCD 2 reviews said you had very little to do in terms of acting.
Lots of reviews were like that.  But that’s fine, see at the end of the day, I said this film is to entertain people. It’s about a journey of dancers and Prabhu Dheva even says this dialogue in the film that ‘Should I tell him or should I show him” so basically it’s about showing people. It’s a full dance genre which is alien. But I think for a film like ABCD 2, to do the numbers it’s done, it’s even because of the emotional connect. In some way, the heart of the film has connected, the emotion has connected with people and full credit to Remo because he kept at it,  he never let me step out of character. I would tell him ‘Sir let me do a little bit of comedy here, should I do this and he said, ‘No Varun, you have to be like this only.’ I would get insecure but Remo full credit to him said no then I would listen to him obviously and then we went at it and the emotional connect eventually at the end of the film, that payoff is the biggest thing for me in the film.

Most of your films have been commercials films. Comment
(Smiles), No one pointed and told me you are doing commercial cinema as in it’s a bad thing. I want to say this because I got many messages. From Shahid (Kapoor), Ranbir (Kapoor), Aayushmann (Khurrana), Arjun (Kapoor), Hrithik (Roshan), Abhishek (Bachchan), Salman bhai, Shah Rukh sir, and they all supported this film. Just imagine such a diverse variety of people, they have all sent messages of congratulations, and encouragement. To me, that’s a great thing, so I guess the industry is not as divided as people think they are.

People find it easy to approach you for commercial films is what I meant.
Which is really…I guess if you show keenness in something, it’s going to come to you. From the beginning I was keen on doing comedy and dancing, so these roles came to me. I guess other actors attract different genres and they probably want to do those kind of roles. So, I am not really thinking of taking other people’s roles, I am not really thinking of being one up on any one of them. It’s not even in my head to be very honest with you. It’s a whole media generated thing because when a person has to go on Friday to see the film, he won’t be thinking ‘yeh is se baada star hai, to iski film hi dekhne wala hoon.’ They will think this picture is good so I will go and see the picture.

But your fan base is building based on the kind of films you are doing…
You do? (power goes off) Look the lights have gone off. Nobody else will believe in this, just look at the timing. Lights went off the minute you said this. God has told me now don’t get carried away with this. This is a sign from God that please don’t believe any of this hype and remain the way you are.

What’s the advice your dad has given you?
Oh, he said ki ‘You have to understand now, that you have become successful, you have to be conscious. The audience is expecting good stuff from you now, you can’t cheat them, you have to be at it. You have to be like this and that.’ I understand what he is saying. I guess it’s a platform of entertainment and the audience wants entertainment. They want to watch good stuff and now I have got the pressure of delivering  that because since the last five films have done well.  But he has seen this in his career. Obviously it’s a different high for him. I think dad is one person I can actually talk to about giving back to back hits. He went through a period where he has got some crazy amount of success and it’s not changed him as a man.  

Before Main Tera Hero, David wasn’t really going through a great phase professionally. There was a time when not many heroes wanted to work with him. Now, he has a hero at home bigger than most of them. How do you look back at that time?
This is not what I say but this everyone says about him. He is one director you can never count out. He has probably the highest success rate as a director in this industry. Even before Main Tera Hero, he had given Chashme Badoor which was a hit film only and David Dhawan and box office are things that you can’t keep apart almost.  So he is actually the safest bet as a director and if I had to work with a director and the safest director if I had to choose, it would only be him. I am not saying this because he is my father. I will be working with him for sure. It should be next year hopefully.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 26, 2015)

After 17 years, Alia Bhatt is enjoying a two-day family vacation in Hyderabad with her parents, Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, and her older sister Shaheen.

When Mirror got in touch with Mahesh Bhatt, he informed that he was enjoying a dinner at the Falaknuma Palace with his wife, daughters and some friends who had dropped by. They were being entertained by some Sufi singers. "It's simple, heartfelt music. They started with the song Alia had sung herself in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Main tenu samjahawan, it was very moving," sighed the doting dad who had waited to hear it before calling us back.

He revealed that his two girls had planned this holiday, insisting that he take a break from the never ending cycle of work.

"I've been on the treadmill for years. Soni, Shaheen and I flew in on Wednesday night and Alia joined us on Thursday morning. I've never travelled for leisure before and after I landed, it felt strange to have nowhere specific to go for work," he admitted.

Bhatt spent the day lying on the grass and watching the peacocks. Today too he has planned to do absolutely nothing. "The last time I took a holiday in London was when Alia was a little girl," he reminisced.

His little girl injured her shoulder recently and her concerned family had toyed with the idea of postponing the holiday. But Alia was adamant that they go ahead with their plans. "June 25 is an important day for me. It was on this day, 32 years ago, that Arth released and India won the World Cup. Today, I am on a break with my wife and two daughters. Can it get any better," he said emotionally.

They'll be back in Mumbai on Saturday. Three days later, Alia will resume shooting.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 26, 2015)


Before turning to direction, Shashank had done a formal course in acting. “Honestly, I just wanted to enter the film industry. I trained under Naseeruddin Shah and did two years of theatre. Even then, I wasn’t clear about which direction I was headed. During my acting course, I realised that I enjoyed writing and directing,” says Shashank who then got an offer to act as well as assist the director in Ishaqzaade. After the film, he was roped in as the chief assistant director for Shuddh Desi Romance. “However, I couldn’t complete that film because my script of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania got approved and I had to start shooting,” he says. During the making of the film, he and Varun became good friends. So much so that, Shashank is casting him in his next film too. Does that mean, he will have Varun in all his films? “On a selfish level, I would love that, but it depends on the script and if Varun is free at the time,” he smiles.

Varun Dhawan on how Punjabi parents never want their kids to move out
Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; June 12, 2015)


Varun Dhawan admits he does feel the need for his own space sometimes, “I do feel the need for my own space because I am doing so much work now. There are so many meetings going on and there are too many people flitting in and out of home. I take up too much space in the house so I feel bad for other people. So now, my mom has made a little section for me in the house. She won’t let me go so easily. And anyway, I wouldn’t move out too far. Maybe, just the next lane or the road across,” he says.

While he is attached to his parents, Varun has always been on the move since his debut. “To be honest, I am hardly home. I am either shooting a movie or promoting one. This has been my life since Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania released. Also, when I am home, my parents treat me like I am 10. I pretty much behave like I am 16. Punjabi parents hate it when their kids move out. I don’t want to either. I am very happy living with them. But I will eventually have to find a new place of my own. I am quite independent that way.”

Rukmini Chopra (DNA; April 20, 2015)

We found several things common between Hollywood actor Channing Tatum and Varun Dhawan.

Firstly, both are good dancers 
Channing already has the dance movie Step Up to his credit, while Varun Dhawan is all set to showcase his moves in ABCD - Any Body Can Dance - 2. Where Channing rocks the typical B-Boying style with his own sweet charm and swagger, Varun nails the jhatkas be it grooving to the tunes of Saturday Saturday or Kukkad Kamaal Da!

They are worth it
Girls continue to swoon over Channing's hot bod. Same is the scene with Varun, who has a crazy female fan following and is popular for his bulging biceps and drool worthy abs.

Are you serious?
Both Channing and Varun were seen in light-hearted films before taking up serious roles, which turned the tables around for them. Where Tatum has been seen in ventures like Magic Mike, 22 Jump Street, Varun has played a loverboy in films like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Main Tera Hero. They both took on intense roles which helped them break the genres they were typecast in; Foxcatcher being a game turner for Channing and Badlapur doing the trick for Varun. The actor was seen as the vengeful Raghu and Channing on the other hand played wrestler Steve Carell.

Ladies and their gentlemen
It goes without saying that both Channing and Varun have a huge female following. The actors are loved for their dancing skills, roles as well as dashing looks.

Jack of all trades, master of all
They can dance, act, make you go weak in the knees…is there anything Varun and Channing can't do? It would be safe to state that these two are versatile and truly are the jack as well as master of all trades!

Music composer duo Sharib Toshi get candid about recreating Samjhawan and Saturday Saturday for Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania
Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; August 8, 2014)

Upala KBR (DNA; August 2, 2014)

Varun, who plays characters from three different generations in the film, says, “I love my job. I have done scary stuff like jumping from the sky without a harness and other dangerous stunts. While acting in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, I consumed alcohol for a drunken scene... I am willing to go to any extent to play a scene convincingly. In the process, I’m discovering new things about myself.”

WANNA TRY EVERYTHING
He continues, “I like being challenged and going against the tide. People told me to do romcoms but I said I want to do the ‘90s type masala films as I grew up enjoying them. I will make it work. If you’re not driven by something, you won’t achieve your target. I don’t want to be a puppet. When people say I can only do massy, commercial films, comic roles or romcoms, I want to prove them wrong. I refuse to be slotted. When they try to box me, it inspires me to push myself to do something different. Watch me in Sriram Raghavan’s next. It’s an extremely challenging, raw, edgy role and very special to me. It will not just push the boundaries — but tear them!

MY LIFE AS AN ACTOR
He further adds, “Cinema in today’s times is more real. I want to do roles which allow me to do everything. An actor should do everything. If Anupam Kher can play an 80-year-old man in Saaransh when he was 27, what is impossible? That’s the beauty of cinema.” Varun not only wants to attempt all genres of cinema, he always watches every film he can, “I watch all kinds of films — from Arth and A Million Ways To Die In The West to serious documentaries. Acting is a joy for me. The biggest high you can get is the one that comes from doing a good scene, when you know you nailed it, when you know that the scene you have done will give the audience goosebumps. An actor is always searching for that moment and it comes rarely — like a pearl in the ocean. That’s what excites me.”

And the parts he does not like? He smiles, “The worse side of being an actor is the paranoia, the insecurity — the dark side to this business. You can lose yourself to success and failure. It’s very lonely out here. Everybody doesn’t understand you nor can you be on the same wavelength as they are...” he wanders off.

IT’S ALL WORK
The actor has gone straight into shooting his next film, not letting him enjoy the success of his last release. “Though Humpty Sharma... has done well, I never got to enjoy the success. I have come to know about how it was received from what people tell me. Right now my days seem endless. I have not been able to take a break since the last three years. Everyone has enjoyed the success of HSKD but I haven’t had time to enjoy it.”

Shashank Khaitan (the film’s director) has gone to his hometown in Nashik, Alia has gone somewhere. I had to leave for Igatpuri immediately for Sriram’s film. I know it’s a success as people on the streets have been coming to me and telling me about it. I am called by my screen name in the towns and villages. When I am in Mumbai, life is a little easier. I wake up by 8.30-9 am, start rehearsing for ABCD 2, work out, spend some time with my family, practise dance in Versova and then come home mentally exhausted and go to sleep,” he says.

THINGS PEOPLE SAY

He believes that people who don’t know actors’ lives make assumptions. “They don’t know that it’s a very difficult life or that actors don’t look as handsome in real life as they look on screen. Most actors when they get up in the morning will scare you without make-up. Also, many of them have financial issues. Everything is not hunky-dory as people think it to be,” he adds.

But there is also the good side. “After my success people have started taking me more seriously. My brother still makes fun of me but dad is happy and proud which is very important to me. Of course, dad also pressures me to constantly work harder as he knows this line is competitive and how things change overnight. So he keeps pushing me to work harder. He always tells me, ‘Give every shot like it’s your last’ and that’s been my principle in life,” he says. Any other mantras? “People say many things - don’t get married early, don’t say this or do that but you must follow your heart, be yourself and you will know whether it’s the right thing you have done,” says the young actor.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; July 14, 2014)


The three-film old actor pulled out all stops — which included uncorking one bottle of alcohol — to lend authenticity to his sozzled scene. Varun, who is rapidly acquiring a reputation for going all-out for his characters, actually hit the bottle while doing a lengthy scene for Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

Varun blames Sriram Raghavan for the unscheduled spot of method acting, “I finished shooting the first-half of Sriram’s film when I came to shoot the climax of Humpty. So maybe I was a little more intense in my approach than I’d have been otherwise.”

He elaborates, “There is a scene where I had to be drunk in the climax. It was shot at 4 am. I took a risk and actually consumed alcohol for the scene. Can you imagine drinking at 4 am? I hadn’t had any alcohol for a while. It suddenly hit me and I was actually drunk.” Apparently, the actor had to be physically supported by the crew as he wobbled and stumbled all over.

Varun says he was scared as he had lost control of his body movements. “Yes, it was scary. But that scene is very precious to me.”

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; July 14, 2014)

Two days ago, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt were in Delhi to promote their upcoming film, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. After making an appearance at a mall, they saw an injured man on the highway and immediately took him to a hospital.

A crewmember says, “We were returning to our hotel and were on the NH8 near Mahipalpur. Just then Varun spotted an injured person on the highway; his car had been damaged by another vehicle. Varun quickly got out of his car and had the man, who was bleeding profusely, ferried to a hospital.”

Alia too accompanied the rest of the crew to the hospital and stayed there till the victim’s family had arrived.  On that day, two fans, siblings actually, were following Varun in their car. Varun went in their car to the hospital. He completed the initial formalities as well, even though he had flight to catch. Both he and Alia wanted to make sure that the man was treated as soon as possible,” says the crewmember. This person is said to be still recuperating in the hospital.

Varun says, “I didn’t think much; I just did what my instinct told me to at that point of time. I am just happy to know that the boy is out of danger now.”