Few actors wear their heart on their sleeve quite like Varun Dhawan. As he gears up for the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by his father David Dhawan, the actor joined us at the Bombay Times Lounge, driven by Jeep, and was at his most unfiltered — cracking jokes, sharing memories and reflecting on the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. From comedy and criticism, to family, fatherhood and fame — the conversation moved effortlessly between laughter and emotion, offering a glimpse into the man behind the star. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store. The promo is out now; catch the full conversation soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

I love comedy and I appreciate anyone who can make me laugh. Let comedy flourish and let people laugh. I feel we all need comedy. Yes, serious cinema should be made, in fact, after Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, I’ll be doing a film which is very different. But it is important to have laughter in our lives

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When Main Tera Hero (2014) first released, there were so many things said, like: He’s a very loud actor, he’s this, he’s that. I was being labelled left, right and centre. When it was re-released last month, I was shocked to see the way people are loving it and responding to it. I am out there to promote Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, but Main Tera Hero is being spoken about so much (laughs)

— On Main Tera Hero’s second innings and finding a new generation of fans

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People say Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a two-heroine film, but if I am a hero in the film, it’s because of Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde. I can’t even call myself a hero here, I am a red flag in the film. I feel if my character shines, it will be because of their support. When you do a David Dhawan film, it’s like a family. My father’s health was up and down through it all and there was a time when he was in the ICU. Everyone from the cast, from the girls to Maniesh Paul and Jimmy Shergill, gave so much love to him and made this film happen together

— On the cast of Hai Jawani… & the family spirit behind a David Dhawan film

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It has become very difficult to keep the illusion, keep the mystery alive. Today, look at how many cameras we have around us. You’re being covered from every angle, everything of your nature is being broken down to a content piece. And even your psychology is being discussed, your body language and your speech is being discussed. I think over-coverage has broken the illusion (of stardom)

— On how stardom has become fragile with excessive exposure

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What I have realized is — whether you love me, whether you don’t like me as much, the point is, I matter. I get discussed. People either cheer for me or criticize me, but I get a reaction from them. The scariest thing for me would be to do something which people don’t react to. Nowadays, we often don’t even know that a film is releasing. So, whether it is through love, through discussions or trolling, at least I’m being discussed and my films are being discussed. I feel that is important

— On why indifference is far scarier than criticism

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Talking about the trolling that he faced prior to the release of Border 2 and how the narrative changed post release, Varun said, “I learnt a lot about God’s screenplay. When you do a film like Border 2, there’s so much responsibility on you. When you work so hard on a film that is so genuine – about the army and your country – you feel, abhi yeh sab accha hi hoga. Why will anything negative happen? So, when that negativity emerged around me, I was like…yeh kaise ho gaya? Yeh, toh mere entertainer films mein hota hai. Why is this happening with this film? I feel that sometimes God takes you down just to lift you up again. That’s exactly what happened to me. I let my work speak for itself. In fact, post the success of Border 2, I didn’t give any interviews around it, I am talking about this with you now.”

I slowed down after Lara, my daughter was born. I realized that this is so special, I am enjoying this so much and I don’t want to miss out on this. Of course, my love for cinema remains unchanged. I’m totally in the service of cinema, and I want to create better films, better characters and I know that I have a lot more to offer

— On how fatherhood made him change his pace

Charming and full of energy, Varun Dhawan brings his infectious sense of humour to the latest episode of the Bombay Times Lounge driven by Jeep. But beyond the laughs, the actor — whose latest release, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan, hit theatres on Friday — reveals a more reflective side as he opens up about the dangers of chasing perceptions, the pressures of fame, and why staying true to yourself matters more than ever. A conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and insightful — much like Varun himself. Watch the full episode on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

My dad always told us, ‘I never went in to make comedy films. Main entertainer bana raha tha. Main logon ko entertain karna chahta tha. Usme romance tha, emotion tha, drama bhi tha, thoda sa action bhi tha. Aur uss mein logon ko hasaa bhi raha tha. But unn emotions ke bagair, those films would not be what they were. People and maybe critics back then, labelled them as comedy, but actually they were wholesome entertainers’.

Recently, at the David Dhawan Film Festival, where they showcased Aankhen, so many of us sat together and watched the film on the big screen — it was still so entertaining and magical. The comedy is not forced, it’s not gaggy... ki yaar, yeh trend mein hai, bolenge toh yeh chalega. It’s very close to real things that happen around us. I believe comedy is basically about capturing the nuances of real life and maybe magnifying them a little bit.

Yes, I was told by a very popular director back then that, ‘I wanted to cast you in a film, but I feel the kind of cinema you’re doing, you can only do that. But you should not do such cinema.’

Yes!

At one point, we thought that he wouldn’t direct a film again because his health was down. So, Rohit (brother), my mom and I, felt he should not direct a film. He was going through a very low phase, and I remember Anil Kapoor, telling me, ‘You have to let your father get back on the sets. He has spent more time on the set than he has spent at home. His home is the set and behind the camera. We are built differently, Varun. Humne bahut kaam kiya hai, so unko khushi agar usme mil rahi hai, let him do it and as a son support him.’ Anil uncle has a similar work ethic, so I understood what he said and that made me think about it a lot. Rohit was a little bit more hesitant to let him direct again, but we knew we had to support him.

I think no one comes prepared to deal with the ups and downs in their life. I’ve had my share of ups and downs and my moments of weakness. But what I have learnt is — you have to move on and take the next step. You can dwell over it and feel bad for yourself. You can play victim, but how long will you play victim? This is something that my dad always tells me — move on, take the next step, you have to take the next step. There’s no point sitting and blaming people for your sorrows and think…ki I’m here because usne mere saath yeh kiya, ya yeh hua mere saath. Arre bhai, tumhari bhi thodi galti toh hogi na? So, introspect, take the learnings and move on. Blaming anyone is not going to get you anywhere.

What is number one? It means you’re better than someone. There’s always going to be someone better than you. Someone will come along and something will change. My idea is to just do my work in the best way possible and enjoy the journey. There was a time when we were all being brought up in that very individualistic mindset. I myself have moved away from it a little bit. I was running too fast and sometimes when you do that, you forget which direction you are running in.

It’s addictive.

The lonely moments that you spend with yourself. When you’re all alone in your van, when you’re all alone in your house — those are the lonely moments. Actors’ lives are very lonely, and this is something which I always discuss. I would say most actors are lonely.

Luckily, from the beginning, I kind of dropped the façade. I am what you see. I can’t keep pretending, because I feel my mental health will go for a toss and I will burst somewhere. I mean, if you see my earlier interviews, I was even more moohfat. Abhi thoda sa conscious ho rahe hain log because of social media and all that. But kya hi hone wala hai? Kya hi kar denge? Cancel kar denge? After a point, you’ve just got to be yourself, whether it’s good or bad — at least you’re yourself. Otherwise after some time, you won’t even know who you are.

I feel that bringing people to come and buy the ticket is tough today. You can make a good film, and many good films are being made, but not all of them make money. It’s not like we are not making good films. I saw Superboys Of Malegaon aur mujhe bahut acchi lagi. I loved Laapataa Ladies and 12th Fail; the movie was also a hit, but it could have made even more money given that it was such a good film. Then there is a film like Dhurandhar, which is an entertaining film, it has stars and everything comes together and it does well. So, it’s possible, but not easy. It was never easy.

Driven by: Jeep

Location courtesy: Luuma House

On Wednesday, Yash announced that his film Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups , which was slated for a June 4 release, has been further delayed. Some weeks ago, to avoid a clash with Toxic, David Dhawan’s next, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, was pushed to June 12.

In an online post, Yash, without revealing his new release date for Toxic , said, “We will release the film at a later, globally aligned date.” With this new turn of events, David Dhawan’s film is back to its original release date, June 5.

Talking about this, Ramesh Taurani, producer of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai , told us, “Yash and Varun are good friends. They got closer when Yash first announced that they have delayed their release to June 4. Their original release date was clashing with Dhurandhar The Revenge. Toxic ’s revised release date was slated a day before our film, so at that point we decided to release our film on June 12.”

Taurani further added, “Yash had told Varun that if there’s any further change, he will let him know. As soon as they decided to push it further, he informed Varun, and we decided to go back to our original release date, June 5. We had chosen this date eight months ago, so we are glad we got it back.”

Three’s already a crowd with Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde featuring in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. What if we told you that another stunner has joined the mix? mid-day has exclusively learnt that Dhawan’s Bhediya (2022) co-star Kriti Sanon has a cameo in the upcoming comedy, featuring in a post-credit song. Apparently, the duo filmed the high-energy number — being described as the film’s “big celebratory finale” by insiders — at the Santacruz restaurant, Eve, on April 16.

According to a source close to the production, the team had been planning a glamorous end-credit track, but Sanon’s involvement was a late addition.

“It was meant to be a fun, youthful track that captures the film’s spirit. Getting Kriti on board was an inspired choice, given her crackling chemistry with Varun in Dilwale [2015] and Bhediya [2022],” said a source.

The song is your classic party number with a packed dance floor, neon-lit visuals, and fast beats. The source added, “Director David Dhawan wanted it to feel like a celebration, not just for the characters, but also for the audience walking out of the theatre.”

Actor Varun Dhawan and his wife Natasha Dalal welcomed their daughter, Lara, in 2024. The actor recently revealed that she was diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), a condition that affected her ability to walk and run properly. He added that she underwent a procedure and is now recovering.

Varun shared that Lara was diagnosed at around 18 months. Speaking on Be A Man, Yaar! podcast, he said, “My daughter was diagnosed with DDH, in which the hip slips out of the socket. Ek pair lamba chota ho jaata hai, jiski wajah se walk tedi ho jaati hai. You can’t walk or run properly.”

He added, “You get arthritis early, slip disc early. West mein iska treatment birth par hi ho jaata hai, India mein har jagah nahi hai itna. But yahan bhi bahut acche doctors hain jo iska care karte hain. She didn’t need surgery. With one procedure, they could put the hip back. But she had to be in a spica cast for two-and-a-half months, which was extremely difficult. To put her under anaesthesia and then she woke up in a cast… now the cast is out. I want to write a book on it.”

Varun also urged parents to closely observe their children’s movements and consult a paediatrician if anything seems unusual in the early years. He emphasised that he was sharing his experience to spread awareness, not to invite sympathy, adding that the condition is treatable if detected early.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a condition in which a baby’s hip joint does not form properly. It may be present at birth or develop as the child grows, and can affect one or both hips.

Certain movies aren’t to be valued on the basis of their box-office collections. Border 2 is one such film for Varun Dhawan. Even as the Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty-led war drama has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark at the domestic box office, it is far more than a commercial milestone for the actor. “I gave everything I had to Border 2 — physically, emotionally, and mentally,” started the actor, who played war veteran Hoshiar Singh Dahiya.

Dhawan joined the cast of Anurag Singh’s directorial venture knowing the responsibility it came with. “I wanted to earn my place in this film every day on set. It’s a film that made my father [David Dhawan] proud,” he smiled.

Over his 13 years in the industry, the actor has built a varied filmography — if there are comedies like Judwaa 2 (2017) and Jug Jugg Jeeyo (2022), there are also thoughtful movies like Badlapur (2015) and Bhediya (2022). To him, his theatrical track record indicates something bigger.

“What matters to me is that people trust my name when they buy a ticket. That trust doesn’t come from one film. It comes from showing up consistently, respecting the audience, and making sure every film gives them value for their money.”

A similar approach is applied to Border 2. Even as the film marks his first Rs 300 crore earner, Dhawan views it through a larger lens.

“It proves that big-screen cinema still matters to the audience. People will come to theatres when the story connects. A Rs 300 crore film isn’t just about personal success; it’s about what it does for the industry. Steady commerce is essential for its health. When films regularly cross Rs 100 crore, it allows producers to invest, technicians to work continuously, and theatres to survive. It allows for more experimental cinema. People are willing to take a punt on [new] ideas because money is being generated by big-ticket ventures. My responsibility doesn’t end with acting well. I want my films to work, and sustain business.”

As actor Varun Dhawan faced online trolling for his expressions before the release of Border 2, producer Nidhi Dutta says the reaction mattered little compared to the validation the film received from those it truly represents.

“Given our intent while making this film, I’m sure Varun didn’t pay attention to the trolling. His biggest victory was being appreciated by a colonel in the Indian Army,” she says. At an event Colonel Sushil Kumar Dahiya — the son of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Hoshiar Singh and himself a serving officer —approached the actor.

“He went up to Varun and said, ‘I can’t believe how well you played my father.’ There is no bigger compliment than that. No box-office number can give you that feeling.”

The film’s success has brought a deep sense of relief to her and her family. “There’s been a lot of waterworks! My mother and father are constantly tearing up. My father doesn’t cry very often, so seeing that was not something you see too often,” she says.

For Nidhi, Border 2 carried far more than commercial expectations — it came with a sense of responsibility. “Not only the legacy of my father and telling stories of the armed forces, but also the legacy of the armed forces themselves. There was faith from the families who trusted my father and me as filmmakers to tell these stories a certain way,” she points out.

Speaking about the casting of the film, Nidhi shares a belief passed down by her father, which shaped their approach. “If you ask Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh or Ahan Shetty, they will tell you about the letter J P saab wrote to them on the first day of the shoot. He believes — and it has become my belief too — that we don’t choose the cast. The heroes who died for the country and the roles they played are the ones who choose the actors,” she shares. She believes this conviction may stem from her father’s experience while casting for the original Border in 1997.

“I don’t know which part of his journey made him believe this so strongly, but he does. Whether it’s Diljit, Varun, Ahan or Sunny, it felt preordained… they had to play these soldiers who laid down their lives for us,” she signs off.

Legions of fans have flocked to the theatres to watch Border 2 since its release. Yet, one person has quietly stayed away from the Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty-starrer — Suniel Shetty. Last week, even as Suniel attended the première of his son’s war drama, he was seen hanging outside the auditorium, while his wife Mana Shetty, daughter Athiya, and son-in-law K L Rahul watched the movie with Ahan.

“I sat for three-and-a-half hours outside the theatre, meeting people and soaking in all the compliments,” he smiled, recalling the evening.

Some may be baffled by his decision. But others may identify with Suniel, seeing how his deep desire for his son’s success led him to make a vow. “I had said from Day One that I will not watch Border 2 until it crosses a worldwide collection of Rs. 500 crore. I had kept a mannat for Ahan. Till now, I haven’t watched a single frame. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not arrogance about the film,” shared the senior actor, who had played Assistant Commandant Bhairon Singh Rathore in the 1997 original directed by J P Dutta.

What happens if director Anurag Singh’s latest instalment — which depicts a chapter of the 1971 India-Pakistan war — falls short of the figure? Suniel is hopeful that a father’s prayers will not go unanswered.

“I am hoping it will cross Rs 500 crore. Mana loved Border 2. Everybody who has watched the film has appreciated Ahan’s work. I am happy that after Dhurandhar [2025], another Hindi movie has worked brilliantly.”

Hopefully it will be a matter of time before the proud father can watch the movie on the big screen. He has already made plans for the big day.

“I will watch it with Ahan, his friends, and my family. I will also take Sunny paaji, Varun, and all of them with me. It will probably be the second time for them, but it will be my first. I don’t know how many times I will watch it after that. I have always been proud of Ahan and his decisions. He strongly believed that Border 2 was the film he wanted to do.”

Two generations. One powerful surname. And a story that goes far beyond the movies. Suniel Shetty— one of Hindi cinema’s original action heroes, known for his discipline, grit and integrity, and Ahan Shetty — a bright, young actor finding his voice in an industry driven by clicks, commentary and constant comparison. Our next guests on the Bombay Times Lounge are the father–son duo, sitting down for a rare, unfiltered conversation — moving from Border to Border 2, from fame to family, from nepotism to self-belief. This isn’t just about a surname. It’s about the family behind it and the bonds that tie them. The promo drops today. Here’s a sneak peek into the conversation. Watch out for the full episode coming soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

“We always want our kids to be happy, and I am not talking about success. I’m scared of failure in the industry and not of success. In other fields, when you fall, you get up and start walking. Here, when you fall, the world looks at you, and they make you feel that you’re nothing. People feel that Hindi film actors are illiterate; they don’t know anything. We know a lot and we are smart. In today’s times, failure is sometimes more celebrated than success. It’s a fact.”

“Today, people just react to what they see in a 2-3 second clip. That’s what’s happening in my generation. We’re being put up against each other. I know there are comparisons between Ahaan Panday and me. I know that guy. I know how hard he’s worked for his film and everything that he’s done to prepare for it. There’s no competition between us. We have our own careers. There is so much love and respect amongst each other and that is what needs to come out. We’re all one industry. Social media has created a divide and that’s why you don’t see so much support for one another.”

“Has anybody seen the film (Border 2)? Nobody has seen the film. We’ve seen glimpses of the film. Varun Dhawan will kill it in the film, he’s outstanding. Varun is not playing himself; he is playing a decorated officer who’s given his life for the country. So, I think we should think a little bit before we go out there and say these things. Today, it’s very easy to trash someone and run them down.”

Talking about self-belief and dignity, Suniel says, "I am who I am, but my attitude depends on who you are. You treat me right, and I treat you like a god and a goddess. If you don’t, then you don’t even exist for me in a room. And that’s my approach to everything today. That’s the confidence I go with. I tell everybody that all of you have that in you. Bring out the ‘X’ factor in you and see the difference."

“It’s been a long journey since Tadap came out in 2021. It’s definitely not been easy. I mean, the whole nepotism debate comes up a lot. I’ve always accepted it. My father is an actor, and I wanted to be an actor. I think it is important to stay focused on what you want to do and not let the noise around you affect you too much. I focus on giving my director and producer my 200 per cent.”

“I’m very close to a lot of the actors in the industry. But at the same time, it’s not that I socialise with them. That respect is there from a work perspective and for the kind of individual that they are. If you tell me that ‘X’ is not a good person, that means nothing to me. It is my judgment of the person that matters. I don’t judge; we never judge. At home, we don’t talk about careers at all, we talk about character. It is about how you behave, whether it is Rahul, Athiya or Ahan.”

“Right now, our world and all our conversations at home revolve around Evaarah (Athiya’s daughter). She’s brought us closer and we even went on a family trip together after 15 years. Dad’s mornings begin with Evaarah – playing with her, feeding her. In the evening, all of us get together at home with her. It’s all about her.”

Ask Ahan which films of his father’s he would want to be a part of, and he says, "I’d love to be a part of Hera Pheri, I love that franchise. Fortunately, I am part of Border 2, which was one of dad’s films that I have always been inspired by."

Actor Varun Dhawan slips into full festive mode on Christmas today, turning Santa for a special shoot with HT City — complete with a sleigh and plenty of cheer. “Christmas time means togetherness, celebrating friends and family,” he shares.

Looking back at the year gone by, Varun admits it hasn’t been smooth sailing: “2025 has been a very testing time for me on many counts, but I’m grateful God gave me the strength to go through it and made me stronger.”

When the conversation turns festive fun, the actor reveals his cinematic Christmas wish. If given a chance to star in a remake, he’d happily step into “Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shoes in Jingle All The Way (1996)”.

As for holiday duties at home, he is candid about where his strengths lie. While gift-wrapping, cooking and cleaning may not be his forte, he makes up for it enthusiastically at the dining table. “I definitely put on a few pounds during the holiday season,” he laughs. His festive favourites include “hot chocolate with marshmallows and cheesecake” — though he admits “kalakand, may not be Christmassy”, but is still a seasonal indulgence he can’t resist.

As per original plans, pre-production of ‘Luka Chuppi 2’ was to begin in early 2026. But the buzz in the industry is that the Varun Dhawan and Sharvari-starrer has now been pushed by nearly six to eight months. Reason? From what we’re told, it’s director Laxman Utekar’s packed slate.

Utekar, who had helmed Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-led ‘Luka Chuppi’ in 2019, is currently neck-deep in the shoot of ‘Eetha’, his biopic on Tamasha artiste Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar.

A source told mid-day, “Laxman is completely tied up with the Shraddha Kapoor film right now. ‘Eetha’ is demanding his full attention, and he doesn’t want ‘Luka Chuppi 2’ to feel rushed or compromised. After he wraps up ‘Eetha’ by mid-2026, he will train his focus on the rom-com’s sequel.”

The lead actors too have a busy date diary. While Dhawan is expected to begin work on ‘Bhediya 2’, Sharvari is currently filming for Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Yeh Prem Mol Liya’. The source added, “A final call on the story and timeline will be taken in late 2026.”

Sonu Nigam, who will be performing in Ahmedabad later this month as part of his ongoing multi-city tour, is eagerly looking forward to the experience. He shares, “I have a very inexplicable connection with Gujarat. Wherever in the world I go, Gujaratis flock to my shows in huge numbers. Some of my closest friends are Gujaratis. Thus, coming to Ahmedabad with a special show like Satrangi Re is a great feeling. It’s like coming back home. I am a big foodie. Gujarati food is delicious, and my favourite is the undhiyu sent to me by Anand Pandit ji every year.”

Recently, his AI-powered live duet with Mohammed Rafi at a concert created a lot of buzz. Talking about it, Sonu says, “The idea came to me when we were working on the show flow for my US tour. I thought I would give myself this opportunity to sing with my guru, and what better song than my own (Kal Ho Naa Ho) for the duet?”

He adds, “I was crying when I sang the part that was meant to be transformed into Rafi sahab’s voice through AI. And can you believe it, I enacted Rafi sahab for the AI to get his mannerisms right.”

Sonu, who has performed in numerous cities in Gujarat, tells us, “Over the last three decades, I have made innumerable trips to Gujarat. Gujaratis have literally seen me growing up. In fact, no one expresses their love for me the way Gujaratis do it, and I love it. The men, women physically hug me, hold me as if I’m their own. They feel they kind of own me, and I respect that kind of feeling. Very fortunate are those who are loved like this.”

The versatile singer, who has also sung for Gujarati films (Udi Re from Vickida No Varghodo and Ishq Rang from Romance Complicated, to name a few), adds, “I have been singing Gujarati songs for a very long time now. I love my recent song Misri (title track of Misri). I understand Gujarati quite a lot, so I don’t have any problem singing in the language.”

Asked about the biggest changes he has noticed in the music industry over the years, he says, “The music business changes, of course, but not much changes artistically. There are excellent, average, and mediocre artistes in all eras.”

How can artistes make their songs stand out in an era of reels and viral fame, where ‘views’ matter a lot? “Honestly, I am not an expert on this. I believe in doing my job honestly and leaving the rest to God,” he says. And how has he managed to remain popular with every age group? “Because I am God’s chosen one!” he quips.

He adds, “It’s a very good time for indie music and artistes. The market has opened up due to various music streaming platforms. The concert scenario in India has also improved drastically. It is more organised now. So, international artistes are more comfortable and surer about performing here. They know they will be treated professionally.”

His song Bijuria was recreated recently for the film Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and Sonu enjoyed it. He says, “The younger generation wasn’t aware of the glory of Bijuria. Karan Johar and Varun (Dhawan) reintroduced my song to the world. Today, three generations groove to it. The kind of reels and responses I have seen on social media — it’s astonishing.”

Sonu shares a special bond with Kirtidan Gadhvi, one of Gujarat’s most loved singers. In an interview with us last year, Gadhvi said that they would love to collaborate someday. Sonu says, “Kirtidan Gadhvi’s love for me is humbling. He is a fantastic artiste and an even better man. I love him and his family. We have decided that he will take me to Dwarka and a few other pilgrimage sites in Gujarat when our schedules are a bit relaxed.”

A carnival-style dance number is almost a fitting way to end the shoot of director David Dhawan’s entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Following weeks of shooting across different locations in Mumbai, leading man Varun Dhawan will face the camera next week for an extravagant dance number that will serve as the end-credit song. mid-day has learnt that the production team has erected a sprawling set at Mehboob Studios in Bandra for the eight-day shoot.

Before stepping on the dance floor, Varun is apparently prepping hard for the track that will be choreographed by Vijay Ganguly.

A source says, “Vijay has mapped out long takes with rapid transitions. In the song, Varun will be moving across different zones — a bridge, a rotating platform, and more — in the multi-level set-up. In one portion, he will also perform a comedic bit that is a hat-tip to Govinda’s dance moves. Varun has been rehearsing at Mehboob Studios, particularly for a demanding sequence that sees him match steps with 60 background dancers.”

After the shoot next week, it will be a wrap on the comedy, which marks the fourth collaboration between Varun and his father David. It also stars Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur.

Vampires, in director Aditya Sarpotdar’s mind, were an out-and-out Western concept. Think biting cold, dark nights, Gothic architecture, all lending mood to the legend. But he was in for a surprise. “When we were researching, we realised that the idea of betaals preceded the concept of vampires. There are several articles referencing how the Western vampire might have been an offshoot of the betaal idea from the Indian subcontinent,” he shares. That seeded the idea of his vampire dramedy, Thamma.

The Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer is the latest addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). As he set out to create an Indian world of vampires, Sarpotdar took inspiration from the classic Hindi TV serial, Vikram Aur Betaal.

“Betaal there was quirky, smart, and cunning. He used to pose riddles to Vikram, then let out a distinct laugh and disappear. Nawaz’s character is, in many ways, modelled on that version. He is mischievous, unpredictable, and a bit mad,” he says.

With creator Amar Kaushik and writer Niren Bhatt, Sarpotdar — who previously made the horror comedy, Munjya (2024) — slowly crafted Thamma’s world. The director remembers the first moment he felt this “madness” truly come alive on set. It was during a night shoot at Film City in Goregaon.

Sarpotdar says, “We were shooting in our massive Betaal World set at Film City. When the actors put on their fangs and began performing the physicality of betaals, it felt crazy. After a few nights, it felt like that was where we belonged.”

When it came to casting, the first betaal Sarpotdar finalized was Mandanna. She cracked the first look test, he remembers. “In the look test, when she came out in costume and we gave her the fangs, the first pose she struck was perfect — this without even a brief. There was a certain dread and coldness, yet so much likeability. The way she has used her eyes and body to express that raw, jungle-like quality was exactly what the character needed.”

As much as fans loved the new characters in the MHCU, they equally loved seeing an old resident of the cinematic universe — Varun Dhawan aka Bhediya. A crossover between the MHCU films is a given. In Thamma, it materialised as a crucial Khurrana-versus-Dhawan fight sequence. The director breaks it down saying,

“In the script, we always had the Bhediya versus Thamma face-off planned. Varun does action very well, and Ayushmann has a high-energy style. They had to go at each other at a Batman-Superman level. Varun’s Bhediya is extremely loved, so his entry had to be kickass — that whistle-worthy slow-motion reveal. Then there’s the werewolf’s reveal. Both are designed as big moments.”

With the MHCU being populated by Stree and her rival Sarkata, werewolves, and now vampires, where is this world headed next?

The director smiles, “A lot of people feel there is huge potential for this universe to unfold further. After Stree, Bhediya, and now Thamma, we’re holding on to one wild card — a massive betaal versus werewolf showdown. The animosity between the two has been set up, and when they finally go at each other, it’s going to be a battle of two big superheroes. We want it to unfold in the most fun and mightiest way possible.”

What if we told you that ‘Thamma’ creator Amar Kaushik, writer Niren Bhatt, and director Aditya Sarpotdar go regularly to online forums and glean fan theories? “All three of us love reading fan theories,” laughs Sarpotdar, before adding that the practice inspires them to make the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe richer.

“We go on forums anonymously, read discussions about our films, and bring those ideas back to the drawing board. We all share this mindset of creating something crazier, something that nobody has ever seen before.”

Producer Boney Kapoor has categorically denied reports suggesting that actor Varun Dhawan has exited the upcoming sequel to the 2005 comedy hit No Entry. In a statement to Bombay Times, Kapoor dismissed the buzz as entirely baseless.

“It is just a rumour. Arjun and Varun are very much part of the movie. It is someone’s imagination,” Kapoor told us.

Over the past week, several online reports had claimed that Varun Dhawan had walked out of the sequel, tentatively titled No Entry Mein Entry, allegedly due to scheduling conflicts and delays in the film’s pre-production. The news surfaced shortly after rumours of Diljit Dosanjh also exiting the film made headlines, leading to speculation about a major overhaul in the cast.

Kapoor, however, clarified that no such change had occurred in the core casting of the film. He emphasized that both Arjun Kapoor and Varun Dhawan remain fully committed to the project.

“We didn’t take the news seriously, but now it has become too big,” he said, addressing the widespread attention the rumours have garnered online. He added, “We are making No Entry Mein Entry and Varun and Arjun are very much in the film. We are in active discussions to lock our other hero and the rest of the cast. In the next 15–20 days we should lock other cast members as well.”

The sequel, directed by Anees Bazmee, has been in development for some time and is expected to be a full-fledged comic entertainer, following in the footsteps of the original which starred Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Fardeen Khan.

The cast of ‘No Entry 2’ has undergone another reshuffle. After Diljit Dosanjh’s recent exit, now Varun Dhawan has reportedly bowed out of the film too. The makers of the Boney Kapoor production, directed by Anees Bazmee, are now scouting for two actors who will bromance with Arjun Kapoor.

The initial cast line-up had Dhawan, Arjun, and Dosanjh in triple role that had fans buzzing. “Varun was very excited about ‘No Entry 2’,” shares a source close to the production, adding that the changes in dates after Dosanjh’s exit “made things a bit complicated”. 

“Now Varun’s dates are locked for ‘Bhediya 2’.” Dhawan will apparently only be free by mid-2026. With both Dhawan and Dosanjh stepping away, the ‘No Entry 2’ team is now back to the casting board. “We’re figuring out the new combinations. Arjun Kapoor is still very much on board.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ actor has turned his attention to Amar Kaushik’s ‘Bhediya 2’, which will go on floors by the year-end.

Two diverse offerings, a mythological spectacle and a romantic comedy, were presented to the audience over the extended four-day weekend. The audience has made its pick known, loud and clear. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend Chapter – 1’s Hindi version is poised to end its opening weekend run at over Rs 60 crore, in contrast to Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which has reportedly made over Rs 30 crore.

Set to amass a whopping Rs 200 crore by the night of October 5 across languages, the dominance of Shetty’s Kannada feature in the South market is not surprising. Bihar-based exhibitor and trade analyst Vishek Chauhan notes that the mythological drama is ruling the Hindi belt too. “In Karnataka, it’s a blockbuster, and [in other markets too], the film is making big money. It’s a super hit in Hindi,” he tells mid-day.

Given Kantara’s (2022) phenomenal run in the Hindi belt, the trade expected the second instalment to open bigger. However, Chauhan considers that an unrealistic ask. He reasons, “The trade thought that since the original broke out like the KGF and Pushpa franchises, the second part would follow the same trajectory and open at Rs. 30-40 crore. But Kantara doesn’t have any commercial hooks, like songs or romance. To expect it to open like a conventional blockbuster is [wrong]. The 2022 film’s [Hindi version] opened at Rs 2-3 crore, and this one did at Rs 17 crore. So, it has done six times the first part’s opening day.”

Rajasthan-based exhibitor Raj Bansal says while the festival release benefitted both the films, Sunny Sanskari ki Tulsi Kumari’s opening was compromised due to the clash. “I believe Sunny Sanskari… earned around 25 per cent less than it should have,” Bansal tells mid-day, before pointing out that Shashank Khaitan’s directorial venture has little going for it.

“There is no novelty in the story; it’s routine feel-good cinema. We have about a dozen of such stories coming. So, the audience didn’t get excited about the film. Varun’s last few films haven’t fared well. That also affects a release’s opening day collection.”

With the collections set to take a drop on Monday, trade expects Sunny Sanskari… to wrap up with a lifetime business of Rs. 60-70 crore. Chauhan adds, “This is concerning for Varun because this will be another flop for him. He needs to introspect because [rom-coms] were his turf.”

In the 1990s, most of us grew up on David Dhawan’s comedies. Over two decades on, entertainers in that genre have reduced in Hindi cinema, with Shashank Khaitan being one of the few filmmakers attempting it. From his debut film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) to his latest work, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, it’s easy to see that Khaitan is influenced by the senior director’s school of cinema, blending romance and comedy to make an all-out entertainer.

Ask him what led to that brand of comedy’s decline, and Khaitan analyses that it was perceived as “easy”. “A narrative was created that these films were not real cinema. People started believing that only films with intense messages were serious cinema. It made filmmakers apologetic about the genre. But the truth is that someone like David Dhawan could teach cinema to anyone, given his understanding of editing and craft. The genre was unjustly treated. It’s as tough to make a Sunny Sanskari… as it is to make a Homebound. Our definition of entertainment needs to expand. Entertainment isn’t only laughing and clapping. Homebound was entertaining to me because it engaged me, taught me about a different worldview,” he shares.

The industry may create its narratives, but Khaitan is staying true to what he knows. With the Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf-starrer, the director is bringing a family entertainer set against the backdrop of a big, fat wedding. His trump card is his leading man Varun. Having worked together on two movies previously, Khaitan says they push each other by surprising one another.

Khaitan shares, “When I write for Varun, I have to think, ‘How do I present him differently?’ Otherwise he’ll get bored of me. So even within a similar universe, we tried to make Sunny different from Humpty and Badri. Here, we’ve gone more tongue-in-cheek in terms of the performance.”

As he reunites with Kapoor seven years after launching her in Dhadak (2018), the difference in the actor is evident to him. Today, she is more confident and aware of the world around her, he notes. “When Dhadak was released, she was dealing with a massive personal tragedy, which made her retreat into a shell. Now, she is much more open and ready to express herself as an artiste. She accepts the pros and cons of her family background, the love and hate that comes with it. She is not scared to take chances. That’s exciting for me as someone who knows her personally, and as a director who now has an actor unafraid to take risks.”

With Sunny Sanskari…, Khaitan has managed something unusual — an ensemble cast where each actor holds his ground. Many directors say it’s impossible these days because of egos.

What’s his take? “I managed it by being honest with everyone. I gave my entire script to the actors and told them, ‘Only come on board if you trust me’. I don’t oversell. I don’t make commitments about things beyond my control, like posters or promotions. That honesty keeps egos out of the conversation.”

Rumour mills were abuzz with stories of Diljit Dosanjh’s ouster — first from Nidhi Dutta’s Border 2, and then from Boney Kapoor’s No Entry 2. However, the actor has already wrapped up the war drama, and sources now confirm that he will soon begin shooting for the sequel of the 2005 film, titled No Entry Mein Entry.

Initially, it was alleged that he walked out of the sequel due to creative differences, then due to date issues, and finally, it was said that working with Pakistani actor Hania Amir in Sardaar Ji 3 compelled producer Boney Kapoor and director Anees Bazmee to reconsider Dosanjh.

Refuting the rumours, a source from the creative team confirms that Dosanjh is definitely on board and will, in fact, begin shooting with co-stars Arjun Kapoor and Varun Dhawan post October this year.

“As of now, the film is on track. The unit will begin with a month-long schedule after October. It will be shot across Greece, Italy, and India. While the story is different from the first one, it will [still] revolve around three men, their marriages, and extra-marital affairs. It is a spiritual sequel to [the first] No Entry. While Boney has been busy sorting out the dates of his male and female leads, Anees has completed the script. An announcement will be made shortly,” informs the source.

The date issue with Dosanjh was finally resolved in July when Boney and Bazmee met the actor on the set of Border 2 for the final narration.

The insider adds, “They met Diljit at National Defence Academy, Pune in the first week of July when he was shooting for Border 2 with Ahan [Shetty], Varun, and Sunny [Deol]. There was talk about some creative differences, but that is not true. Diljit is very excited to collaborate with the team, especially with Anees. [In fact], Boney and Anees are committed to having him on board and only he can play this character.”

The producer has also locked Tamannaah Bhatia for the ensemble comedy.

Even as Kubbra Sait awaits the release of Son of Sardaar 2, she is thrilled to have already completed her second comedy feature, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Unlike the Ajay Devgn-led film, the David Dhawan directorial features her in a small part. “In all honesty, that was a one-day shoot,” she reveals.

But that didn’t matter, as the opportunity to be part of a film directed by the veteran filmmaker was quite special for the actor. “For me, it’s a legacy project, because I’m working with ‘the’ David Dhawan,” she says, before mentioning that the film "was also giving me a chance to work with Mrunal Thakur, whom I last worked with in Son Of Sardaar 2. So, it would have been an extension of our earlier collaboration. Varun Dhawan has been my classmate in my acting class! Lastly, Maniesh Paul is someone I have shared the stage with for so many years. So, that for me was a project I would never say no to, even if it was an hour’s job,” she shares.

Sait tells us that Varun and she attended Barry John’s acting school before making their screen debuts. “We were in the same batch. I would [often] run away to do my events and other stuff; I think I was the worst student in the class. Varun, on the other hand, was the most hardworking student,” she smiles