Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 18, 2020)

The year began with the promise of two big, fat Indian weddings in Tinsel town — rumours were rife that Varun Dhawan and longtime girlfriend Natasha Dalal were set to exchange vows this summer while Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's four-year romance would get its happily-ever-after with an April wedding. However, with the Coronavirus outbreak in the country, it may be a while before either couple walks down the aisle.

A source reveals that in light of the recent developments, the Dhawans have shifted their wedding dates to the second half of the year. "The initial plan was to have an intimate wedding on a private island in Thailand, but it was scrapped last month in favour of a destination wedding in Jodhpur. Eventually, they called that off too and were considering having a low-key ceremony in Mumbai. But looking at the current scenario, they have decided to tentatively push the shaadi to November and have reverted to their original choice of destination — Thailand."

Chadha and Fazal too may postpone their round of band, baaja, baaraat. "Many of their guests were to fly in from the US and Europe for the do. Also, the couple was hoping to have their nuptials in Delhi, which is currently on a partial lockdown. So, they think it's best to delay the wedding to later this year," says a source close to the couple.

BOMBAY TIMES (May 26, 2019)

Though Varun Dhawan, in an interview, had said that his schedule doesn’t give him the time to plan a wedding this year, the buzz about the actor tying the knot with girlfriend Natasha Dalal at the end of this year is getting stronger. While there were rumours about Goa being the destination for the wedding, a source tells us that Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is where the shaadi may take place. Last December, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, too, had taken their vows in the Blue City.

The source says, “Varun and Natasha’s wedding will be a three-day affair with close friends and family in attendance. They want a November-December wedding, and the date will be finalised on the basis of the availability of the venue. Post the Jodhpur wedding, they will host a reception in Mumbai.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (April 27, 2019)

On Friday, David Dhawan put reports of a November wedding for son Varun Dhawan and his steady date, Natasha Dalal, to rest. While talking to mensxp.com, the veteran filmmaker stated that the wedding “will happen next year maybe. I am very happy with their relationship. What more does a father need?”

While on the subject of his younger son, David also revealed that the family celebrated Varun’s 32nd birthday on April 24 by cutting a cake, even though the actor was in Thailand on a boys’ trip for the big day. “We were on the phone and Facebook with him. We cut a cake here and my granddaughter Nyra (elder son Rohit Dhawan’s daughter with wife Jahnvi), who is not even one, joined us. We managed to celebrate his birthday,” David added.

The real reason why Varun Dhawan won’t talk about the love of his life
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; July 29, 2015)


It has never been proved if actors’ relationship status affects their careers, but Aamir Khan and Govinda hid the fact that they were married. In the 90s, actors believed that the ladies would warm to actors only if they were single. He agrees, “There was a time when actors believed that it would harm their careers if they came out in the open about their private life.”

So why isn’t he coming out in the open about his girlfriend. He smiles, “Why am I not speaking out about my private life? Because there is too much to speak about. It will overtake my professional life. I am telling you, my private life is very exciting. I know if I reveal something about my private life, then people will be not be interested in my work. I am not a boring person. You know how some people say ‘Oh, I am very boring, there is nothing to talk about my life, It is an open book and all that stuff?’ I am not like that.”

A lot of actors are now living in before they get married. Does he see himself doing that? He shakes his head, “I don’t believe in live-in relationships. So, no I don’t think I can do that.” I venture a guess if it’s because he is a family boy, who lives with his parents and doesn’t want to change that? He replies. “Not because I am a family boy... I mean when the time comes, I might. Who knows? Har cheez ki, aur har insaan ki aukat hoti hai. Right now my aukat is not to be in a live-in relationship, to support someone.”

What does he means by aukat? “Aukat means... dimaag ka aukat hona chahiye. You should have a full aukat in the sense that you should be mature enough to have a relationship. I am not mature, I am a child right now. I am 27, I need to grow up a little bit and then I can.”

Shahid Kapoor has just got married in his mid-30s. But he was single for a while now. But Varun doesn’t want to get hitched for a while. When I ask at what age does he see himself getting married? He grins, “I wanted to get married at 22. When I was out of college, I was ready to get married. Then I realised it’s not a good idea. I was just fascinated with the idea of getting married. But I am not getting married. People can relax about that. Not right now, at least for a while.”

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; March 28, 2014)

Varun Dhawan may think that his father David Dhawan doesn’t know his feelings for him, but in reality he does, as Varun’s mother shares it all with her husband. David finds his son naughty, grounded and talented, but under no circumstance will he let his son get married soon, as he believes that Varun needs to be married to his profession right now. On being asked about Varun’s marriage plans, David immediately said, ‘Salman Khan ab tak shaadi kiya kya? So how can Varun? He can get married once Salman gets married.’ We bring you excerpts of our conversation with the respected director David about his actor son Varun.

How is Varun as a son?
Varun has always been naughty, but is an amazing child. He was never demanding and was happy to play with his toys and his GI Joe till he became big, where he would take his GI Joe to his bathroom while taking a bath. He loves sports and was a good runner. He has his simple friends from school days who are all grounded and he would even today prefer going with his friends to a Shiv Sagar to have a dosa versus going to a fancy place. If he is in the car and I call him and ask him where he is, he will not know. If you ask him what time it is, he will not know. I have never hit him. While I provided for both my sons financially, I never realised when they grew up, as I was very busy in the 90s, perpetually living out of a suitcase. It’s only when my older son Rohit went to the US and Varun to Nottingham that my wife said, ‘David what are you doing?’ And I realised what I had missed as a father. I would talk daily to Rohit and Varun. We thought that Varun would return to work for a bank, but he shocked us on his return when he said he wanted to become an actor. Even though he is doing well now, he is not the materialistic kind and even today, I manage his finances and income tax-related things. He is my friend and he will wrestle on my bed with me as long as just four years back. He would come on my set and help and be happy to be the spot boy. His mother has always kept him grounded. She would take Varun in a rickshaw to play cricket and would manage everything. He is very grounded and respects his elders very well.

Does he show you his emotion?
He shows it very less, but I come to know through his mother. He nearly died when I fell sick while shooting Main Tera Hero. He was crying and was upset with me and was running around, but did not let me know that. But he doesn’t know that I knew. I know that he is concerned about my health. But for me to return the next day itself from the hospital was important, as in my kind of cinema, by my not being there you could miss a laugh. My wife and sons treat me like a child and don’t allow me to even cross the road. I want to tell them that I have been street-smart and can manage. At heart, I am still a middle-class boy, who loves noise and has come up step-by-step.
 
What has Varun taken after you?
The best thing I like about him is his passion about work. He has the killer instinct. I was also like that. I too was very competitive, where if you push me against the wall, I will strike back. He is even more competitive than me. I would eat breakfast not knowing whether I would get lunch and lived hand-to-mouth. Iska baap toh David Dhawan hai, mera baap toh koi nahi tha.
 
How do you find him as an actor?
He met Karan Johar on his own and wanted to assist him as he was starting My Name Is Khan with Shah Rukh and Kajol. Varun wanted to see both these stars act, post which Karan cast him in Student Of The Year. Once, Karan called me to see one of his songs and that was the time I saw him dancing. Seeing him dance, my heart swelled, as he was dancing so well. He has the rhythm, which either you have it or don’t have it. Karan has given him a great launch. I remember the first trial for which Karan called us. Yash Chopraji was sitting at the back and Yashji said, ‘Tera beta kamaal hai’ during the interval. I saw the climax and told Rohit, ‘He is an actor. There is nothing to worry about him’ and I hugged Varun.
 
You have worked with two of the biggest actors, Govinda and Salman. How does Varun compare as a hero versus them in a David Dhawan film?
It’s very difficult for me to comment on this, but he will join them. I have tried to do the best with him and now it’s up to him what he does. He is a newcomer. He has a long way to go to be where they are. I have made him do the best that a newcomer can do. I get calls asking whether he is available and I feel very 
proud of him. I also feel happy for my wife Lali, as she goes out feeling proud that she is his mother.

Varun and stars like him have impacted established stars. Likewise, newcomer directors have impacted older directors like you. So in a sense you both are in opposite boats. How long do you see yourself directing?
My last film Chashme Baddoor was a hit. I will be there till my shoes are on.
 
Do you see Varun getting married?
No, I don’t see him getting married. I will take the daylights out of him if he was to. He is married to only his profession at the moment. Salman Khan abhi tak shaadi kiya kya?
 
How do you find Ekta Kapoor as a producer?
She is a very aggressive producer. She has a pulse of the market and understands the audience and scripts. She is very today. She knows how to market her film and goes all for it.

Does the fact that Varun is in the film add to your stress?
I enjoyed working with him but there is box office pressure. My track record is hit with all my films. So I must prove myself with Varun, otherwise people will say, ‘Ghar mein kya kiya apne?’ It has been over 25 years of being a director. I feel it is payback time now and I am enjoying this phase more than any other phase in my life. Maybe it’s because my sons are with me. Rohit has been with me from the birth of this film. I wanted him to direct this film, but he felt this was completely my kind of film. But he selected locations for me and was with me throughout and looked after me selflessly. He is my Shravan Kumar.