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.

Surrounded by capes, comics and cosplay, Varun Sharma stepped into the vibrant world of superheroes and supervillains at the Mumbai Comic Con. The Fukrey actor took a trip down memory lane – channelling his inner nerd, fanboying over Iron Man, reminiscing about Shaktimaan and geeking out over Deadpool. What followed was a candid chat packed with nostalgia, pop culture and superpower charm.

For him, visiting Comic Con had been a long-standing wish. “It felt like I was transported into another world. The atmosphere was electric, like stepping onto a superhero movie set, with costumed characters strolling by as if it were the most normal thing in the world,” said the actor, who voiced Garfield in the Hindi adaptation of The Garfield Movie.

Donning an Iron Man-themed T-shirt at the event, the actor couldn’t contain his admiration for the iconic superhero and Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of him. “I just love Iron Man. He’s pure love! I am a huge movie buff, and the fact that this franchise gave Marvel its biggest breakthrough is something you just can’t ignore. On top of that, the emotion Robert Downey Jr brought to the character makes it impossible not to be a fan!” he gushed.

Long before Marvel and the multiverse, his superhero saga began on the streets of Jalandhar. He recalled with a grin, “Like every millennial kid, Shaktimaan was my first superhero. Every Sunday, our entire locality would gather around one TV. We’d watch, cheer, and then try to copy his moves.” Comic Con didn’t exist back then, but school fancy-dress competitions — often called Go-As-You-Like — were the stage. “I would often dress up as Shaktimaan. He was my OG. He introduced me to this world,” he shared.

That, of course, brings us to the question: who is his favourite superhero? And the Merc with a Mouth makes an entry into this super-fun chat. “Deadpool, hands down. I absolutely love him,” he explained, adding that Deadpool’s chaotic and unconventional approach to heroism really resonates with today’s world.

“He’s not perfect, but he’s trying to do the right thing in his own chaotic and crazy way. That speaks to our generation. We don’t see things as black and white anymore; we believe that you don’t need to be perfect to do good.”

As an actor, he’s especially fascinated by the character’s unique storytelling style. “Breaking the fourth wall, talking directly to the audience — it draws you in. It makes you feel like you’re part of the story. That’s incredibly powerful,” he shared.

Last year, Varun had the incredible opportunity to channel his love for comic book characters through his profession when he voiced Garfield in the Hindi adaptation of The Garfield Movie. As one of the most nostalgia-laden characters in the comic world, Garfield demanded a performance that captured all his signature nuances. He recalled, “While preparing for the role, I watched several Garfield movies and revisited many Garfield comics. It took about two weeks to fully understand the eccentricities of that quirky, sometimes arrogant, sometimes sarcastic orange tabby. But honestly, it was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had dubbing for a film.”

Would he bring Garfield to life on screen again? Absolutely. It seems there’s more than just the voice that connects him to this food-loving feline. When asked which superpower he would want, the reply came quickly: “As a Punjabi, I would want the superpower to eat as much as I want without gaining weight.” Sounds like a power Garfield would wholeheartedly endorse!

For him, superheroes aren’t always the ones swinging from skyscrapers or wielding hammers: sometimes, they’re the ones quietly making homes happier. He shared, “A superhero is someone who selflessly puts others first and does whatever it takes to help. He acts not out of any self-interest but because he feels a responsibility to help others. For me, mothers are the biggest superheroes. Running a household and making everyone happy and loved — that’s a real superpower.”

As AI continues to reshape the entertainment landscape, Varun believes Comic Con is headed for a transformation. “I think in the future, we will see immersive VR journeys through superhero universes, hyper-realistic robotic cosplays, 3D printing booths, real-time translation for global fans, and even holographic celebrity interactions. It’ll become more global than ever, but at its heart, it will always be a celebration of fandom, nostalgia and pure joy,” he concluded.

It’s not easy for an outsider to get a break in this industry. Varun Sharma knows that, having worked his way up in the movies. That’s why he is only too happy to support writer Vipul Vig, who is foraying into direction with Rahu Ketu. Sharma is fronting Vig’s comedy, thus staying true to the promise he had made to the writer when they both had met on the sets of Fukrey over a decade ago. “Fukrey launched both of us. Vipul and I had hit it off instantly, and bonded over our love for cinema and comedy,” recalls the actor.

While shooting for Fukrey (2013), Sharma had told Vig that whenever he decided to direct a film, he would help him in any way he can. Their friendship strengthened as they collaborated on Fukrey Returns (2017) and Fukrey 3 (2023). When Vig wrote the screenplay of his directorial debut, he couldn’t think of anyone except Sharma and his Fukrey co-star Pulkit Samrat.

Sharma adds, “Vipul believed in me when I was a nobody. We all made Choocha together. I’ve always believed in him and his quirky humour. When he told me he was ready to direct, I knew I had to be a part of it. This film is a celebration of our friendship and a realization of our innocent dreams. I’m thrilled that another [artiste] like me, who comes from nothing, is ready to begin a fresh chapter here.”

The comedy, which also stars Shalini Pandey, is currently being shot in Mumbai.

Starting today, as we gear up for Mother’s Day on May 12, we embark on a journey to share never-before-heard stories about Bollywood stars and their mothers. Our special series kicks off with a glimpse into the life of actor Varun Sharma’s mother, Veena Sharma. Not only has she been a steadfast support for him, but she also boasts a remarkable career of her own. With a master’s degree in arts, Veena served as a fine arts lecturer for an impressive 38 years.

Reflecting on her tenure, she reminisces, “I began my journey as a teacher in 1977 and retired in 2015 as the Head of the Department.”

Raising Varun and his sister as a single mother following the demise of her husband in 2005, Veena faced criticism from family members when Varun expressed his desire to pursue a career in Mumbai. 

Recounting those pivotal moments, she says, “After completing his 12th grade, we visited family in Chandigarh for a two-day vacation. It was during a talent show there, where Rubina Dilaik also participated, that I witnessed Varun’s talent and resolved to support him in his passion.”

Varun, acknowledging his mother’s unwavering support, remarks, “My mother has played every role in my life. Her faith in me, enabling me to pursue my dreams in a new city, has been fundamental to my journey. Having her and my sister by my side during my move to Mumbai was my greatest strength as I embarked on this acting journey.”

Veena expresses her gratitude for her son’s gesture of purchasing a house for her in Mumbai: “I relocated to Mumbai to be closer to my children in 2016, initially renting a place. But in 2022, Varun bought that (same) house for me, and it will always remain truly special. Additionally, he fulfilled my lifelong dream by arranging for me to meet Shah Rukh Khan!”

I asked Varun to promise me that he would follow his passion with dedication and honesty and would not fall into other traps (when he moved to Mumbai). He made me proud by staying true to his word.  

She embodies discipline and punctuality, virtues I strive to emulate in my personal and professional lives. Her optimistic outlook and ability to find solutions even in the face of adversity are traits I admire.

It has been an eventful week for Varun Sharma. The actor wrapped up the shoot of Sab First Class in Punjab, returning to Mumbai in time for the launch of D, which was announced on Thursday as part of Netflix’s 2024 slate. He believes the Samarpreet Singh-directed comedy, which also stars Jassie Gill, Manjot Singh and Sunny Singh, will resonate with the youth. Reason? To the actor, it’s the perfect road trip film.

“I think the best road trips happen after a break-up. When you have your friends by your side while going through a break-up, the chaos, wickedness and wackiness that take place—[it’s all reflected] in Wild Wild Punjab. After a relationship ends, every person feels the need to say, ‘I am over you’. Here, my character is on a journey to say these four amazing words,” laughs Sharma.

Comedy comes naturally to him. While it was evident in his debut film Fukrey (2013), where he shone as the goofy Choocha, the actor, over the past decade, honed his craft and was praised for his performances in the subsequent Fukrey instalments and Chhichhore (2019). Sharma aims to widen his range within the genre this year.

“In each film, I’m portraying a character that challenges me to redefine comedy. It’s a thrilling experience to experiment with different comedic styles. I had a great time shooting with Shehnaaz Gill and Kusha Kapila for Sab First Class. We are friends, and when friends reunite on screen, the process becomes a lot of fun.”

The actor will also be seen in Rumi Ki Sharafat, produced by Dinesh Vijan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fukrey clocking 10 years calls for a double celebration for Varun Sharma, who debuted with the film. “It’s one of the biggest blessings to have debuted with a character like Choocha,” the actor says, adding, “This film and my character brought me acceptance among the audience and the film fraternity. So, it will always hold a special place in my heart... Everything I have today is because of Choocha.”

While he has many special memories associated with the film, the one thing that stands out for Sharma, 33, is featuring in a poster for the first time ever. He recounts, “I called my mother and told her. There was pin drop silence for a moment, after which she blessed me. I realised, then, the true meaning of the phrase - silence speaks a lot.”

A set full of pranks, fun BTS moments and lots of Dilli ka khana are some of the things that Ali Fazal associates with filming for Fukrey. The actor, who played Zafar, believes the film brought about a “fresh change” in Bollywood. “It was something unique that we were part of. It was revolutionary,” he tells us.

The 36-year-old is not only thankful for the film, but also for the “great friends” he made as well as for meeting his now-wife, actor Richa Chadha: “That is the best thing (laughs). Fukrey, to me, is more than just a film.”

Fazal credits the film for putting him on the map “in a big way”. “I did more meaningful films in Bollywood and not to forget, Mirzapur (web series), with Fukrey’s producers (Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani). It has been special,” he concludes.

“You know how we listen to old Hindi songs because they give us a feeling of comfort and bring us together without us realizing? That’s what I feel about Fukrey,” says actor Richa Chadha, who won hearts as Bholi Punjaban. Talking about her role, she adds: “At the time, negative characters for women were mostly restricted to saas-bahu dramas. I always felt Bholi Punjaban was very unusual.”

But, the film changed her life in more ways than one — it was also the beginning of her love story with now-husband, actor Ali Fazal. “My relationship with Ali happened very organically. I’d converse a lot with him on set. We became really good friends and a few years later, we started dating,” she shares.

Was it difficult to keep the relationship under wraps? “The entire cast was pretty close. They all kind of knew,” says Chadha, 36.

Pulkit Samrat is “very proud” to be associated with the Fukrey franchise. But the actor, who played Hunny, admits nobody thought it would receive adulation of such magnitude.

“When we started, none of us thought Fukrey would be such a huge hit that we’d end up making it a franchise,” he says, adding, “As an actor, it is one of the greatest feelings to be a part of the team... Fukrey is life.”

Samrat, 39, feels the casting was on point and that was a big plus. “We are all Fukras on the set. Somebody is goofing up or bringing the house down. What you see on screen is exactly what is going on. Manjot is very jovial; one would always find him around food stalls. Varun is just like Choocha... Also, we all have a common Delhi connect,” he says.

With all eyes now on the third part, set to release later this year, Samrat says the soul of the original will remain intact. “We can promise that Fukrey 3 will be the biggest and best part,” he signs off.

Manjot Singh had already made his mark in showbiz with Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008). But Fukrey, he says, is what gave his career an impetus. “This was the first film where I was one of the leads,” says the actor, who played Lali. “When I got a call for the role, even before listening to the script, I asked, ‘Main poster par hounga na?’ Our director, Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, said all four leads would be on the poster. So, I signed the film without reading the script,” he says.

Interestingly, Singh, 30, was cast even before the script was completed. “Mrigdeep knew I was his Lali. I was locked in his mind while he was still writing the script,” he reveals, adding that he’ll always be grateful for having landed the movie: “Yeh pehli film hai jisne humein bada banaya.”

Pata hi nahin chala kaise nikal gaye — this is Pankaj Tripathi’s reaction on his film, Fukrey, turning 10. The actor, who played Pandit, recalls how he did not have much to do in the first part; but as the story progressed, so did his character.

He tells us, “Fukrey franchise aur meri growth badi similar hai. Mere character ne apni ladai khud ladi, so much that the writers had to write more in the second instalment.”

Pandit, today, is remembered for his quick wit. But, the English lines he said were not part of the script! “Ek din set pe jab lighting chal rahi thi, someone said something, to which I replied, ‘He’s so vulgar’. Everyone started laughing. The director said, ‘Isko rakho film mein’,” chuckles Tripathi, 46.

In the last nine years, Varun Sharma has explored various shades of comedy through some prominent films that he’s been a key part of. And yet, he’s not done with the comedy genre yet. While he’s more than willing to explore other elements of entertainment, he continues to be a hardcore comedy loyalist. The Fukrey actor believes, “It’s a genre that can never reach a saturation point.” In a chat with BT, he explores what makes humour a serious business and more. Excerpts:

Every filmmaker is different and their style and approach towards humour or comedy are also unique to them. As actors, our job is to tap into their vision and make it come alive. The basics for an actor will always be the same. But you have to find your rhythm and your connection with the material in hand. You rely on the same set of tools but in varying degrees, depending on what a filmmaker wants. I think directors have a big role to play in how a comedy shapes up. It’s their medium, they know best what they want, and they will always extract the best from you. I’m fortunate to have been able to adapt to so many different directors and their styles of humour — like Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, Rohit Shetty and Nitesh Tiwari — they’re all so unique. Working with each one opens up a new door to learn and grow.

When people say that ‘Comedy is serious and tough business’, it is true. Comedy looks easy, but it’s extremely tough to make people smile and laugh. Log aasani se nahi hanste. Even in our everyday lives, things have changed so much. Humour is changing with the times. The jokes, punchlines and timing that worked five years ago won’t work now, and what works today won’t work two years down. Because our sense of humour and what really puts a smile on our face or brings out a chuckle or two is rapidly changing. We have a different attention span, patience levels and slang. Films often try to adapt from real life it could be characters, gags or instances. They are drawn from something or someone that exists. Spontaneity is important, but I believe in preparing a lot as well. You have to get your structure perfectly; it can be enhanced spontaneously. Comedy as a genre works when people work in tandem. Comedy is not a one-man show. Woh ek akela aadmi aapko nahi hansa sakta. A punch becomes funny because of the reaction someone gives. It gets enhanced with the background music or the scene’s treatment on screen. The entire team has to be in sync for that to work.

I love comedy and I genuinely love to make people laugh. It’s a blessing to be able to do that and to go into a theatre and watch people reacting with laughter at a punch you delivered. Believe me, I used to do serious stuff like Anton Chekov’s plays in theatre. Auditioning for Fukrey was the first time that I tried comedy. When I started shooting, I started getting cold feet. I wasn’t sure if people would laugh. I have to credit Mrigdeep Singh Lamba for drawing out Choocha from me. When I saw people laughing in the theatres, I started crying because I was so overwhelmed. Koi khush hua mujhe dekh ke, koi hansa mere punch pe. So, even though I want to explore other genres, I will keep exploring comedy, too. So many people have warned me that I might get typecast. But I don’t want to jump into another genre unless I am excited with the content offered. I’m happy exploring what I love comedy. This genre has given me everything I have today. It would be unfair ki isko rok ke kuch aur attempt karun for the heck of it. And who says there’s only so much to comedies? I’m still learning. I feel that I don’t know if I can act. The day I start believing that I can act, I’ll be in deep trouble. As for trying something different, hopefully, next year, I will be doing something very different from what I’ve done so far.

Honestly, as an industry person, I want everything to work. It’s important. Comedy as a genre doesn’t have a saturation point really. Like horror-comedy was not a genre that was explored much until a few years ago with Stree. It worked. It was an experiment that got mainstream acceptance. To me, it doesn’t make a difference. I feel we should do our work with complete shiddat, and not overthink these things because there’s no guarantee of what will work in future and why. Art is subjectively loved by people.

When people say things like, ‘Fukrey toh cakewalk hai, tumhare toh blood mein hai,’ I feel like telling them, it’s not that! Fukrey is the closest to my heart, and Choocha is a character that laid the foundation of my career here. The fraternal acceptance, more work, my house, my expenses, my life it’s a gift of that character. This film is the starting line of so many people’s careers. It’s a special feeling to revisit that space. When we started out, I remember all of us were so raw, and some of us so inexperienced. We were just happy that we would get to see ourselves on the big screen. Nine years later, we have become more aware, experienced, mature and evolved. I had to unlearn everything to be able to do Choocha again.

I have an emotional attachment to the role. It’s a part of my life and my everything. For five years after my debut, people didn’t know my real name. In the last four years, Sexa from Chhichhore is the only other name that people have known me as. Otherwise, I’m Varun for them. I often tell my mother that she’s probably the only mother in the world who is proud ki unka beta ek fukra aur chhichhora hai. I don’t think and I don’t know if I can outgrow Choocha’s character. It’s too close to me.

Filmmaker Luv Ranjan tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Alisha Vaid, in a private ceremony surrounded by family and close friends on Sunday. The wedding took place at a plush hotel overlooking the Taj Mahal in Agra. As per reports, the pheras were followed by a reception in the evening.  

On Saturday, actor Ranbir Kapoor, producer Dinesh Vijan, and music composer Pritam Chakraborty were spotted outside the Mumbai airport as they jetted off to Agra to attend Ranjan’s big day. Other guests at the wedding included actors Arjun Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Rajkummar Rao, Varun Sharma and actor-producer Jaccky Bhagnani.

Ranjan’s close pals, actors Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Sunny Singh, who have collaborated with him on Akaash Vani (2013), Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015) and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) also joined the celebrations. As per reports, the couple wore outfits by designer Manish Malhotra on their big day. If rumours are to be believed, Vaid was Ranjan’s college sweetheart, and it is their shared love for art that connected them.

Kartik Aaryan and Rajkummar Rao

Pritam, Arjun Kapoor and Varun Sharma

Filmmaker Luv Ranjan exchanged wedding vows with his girlfriend Alisha Vaid at a private ceremony, at a plush hotel in Agra overseeing the Taj Mahal yesterday. The wedding was attended by the couple’s family and close friends. From the Bollywood brigade, Arjun Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, filmmakers Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar, composer Pritam apart from Luv and Alisha’s other friends were in attendance.

Rakul Preet Singh and beau Jackky Bhagnani also attended the wedding, but only after a quick detour at the Taj Mahal. Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Singh and Nushrratt Bharuccha, three of Luv’s oldest actor-collaborators were at the ceremony, participating in the revelry. The wedding functions kicked off two days ago with mehndi, sangeet and haldi ceremonies.

The overall decor for the wedding rituals was created keeping the couple’s taste with every ritual designed thematically. The celebrity guests started trickling in from Saturday noon for the nuptials that took place yesterday. The couple apparently wore outfits from designers like Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi for the various functions. It was a simple wedding ceremony, replete with followed by the reception in the evening.

On the work front, Luv, known for films like Punchnama series, has an impending schedule of his romantic drama with Ranbir and Shraddha left to be shot in Spain. He’s expected to resume work in a few days.

A source close to the filmmaker says, “Luv and Alisha wanted to keep their wedding extremely private and away from the media glare. Luv is fiercely guarded about his personal space. That’s the reason he has never uttered a word about anything except his work. ”

Marriage bells might be ringing for many in the film industry, but “it’s not on the cards” for actor Varun Sharma, yet. The Chhichhore (2019) star would rather focus on his career right now. With a dash of his signature humour, he tells us, “For marriage to happen, I need to find a girlfriend, and for that, I have to explore life and travel. But, in the past two years, the maximum I could travel was to Lonavala (laughs).”

But he is quick to add that he is “open to the idea of a relationship”. The actor continues, “If I am meant to connect with someone, it will happen. There is no pressure from my family. Ideally, I want to wait for two-three years (before getting married).”

Talking about his idea of a perfect relationship, Sharma shares, “There has to be mutual respect and compatibility. In a relationship, you and your partner should be able to see and bear the extremeness of every emotion. There shouldn’t be any filter between two people in love.”

The 32-year-old believes that connection and friendship form the basis of any relationship. “If friendship wanes, then the whole charm of a relationship is lost. You should be able to do the wackiest things together, and that’s when every day spent with your partner will feel like a new day,” he says.

On the work front, he will be seen in filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus alongside actor Ranveer Singh. However, the film that went on floors in 2020 has been suffering sporadic delays due to the pandemic. Quiz him if these halts bother him, and he says, “It’s the feeling of togetherness that binds us. Despite the breaks, every time we got together, we would pick up from where we left, and all the inertia would be gone.”

Varun Sharma, a self-proclaimed fan of digital content, is glad to have made his debut on OTT. The actor starred in a web series, Chutzpah, which talked about how the internet is deeply embedded in our world.

“It is World Wide Web for everyone, but for some people it is weird wide web,” says Sharma, adding, “I have always played characters that are relatable. Be it Chucha or Sexa, they work for me. The digital space is such an interesting medium as people of all ages watch content online and there is something for everyone.”

Shooting for the series was a “difficult and different” experience for him as there were no co-stars on set, and he had to talk to a monitor. Moreover, it was shot after the first lockdown, so a skeletal crew added to the experience. Sharma says he is glad that the reception for the show has been good. “I have been hearing that people are loving the treatment of the series and feel the content is new,” he further adds.

Nowadays, we live a major part of our lives online. Ask him how active he is on the internet and he explains, “I won’t lie, I am a regular user. But I have improved. I have a few mantras like to not check my phone right after waking up, in fact not for an hour, and not checking it again an hour before sleeping. On holidays, I carry a regular phone, not a smartphone so that I don’t browse the net,” the Fukrey (2013) actor reveals.

Has he seen the dark side of the digital age? The actor says he hasn’t experienced it personally but has seen people fall prey to it. “I have seen people being affected by social media. That’s sad as social media can get toxic. People today don’t confide in friends or family. Reading or hearing something or receiving a random comment can affect people in a huge way. Such things can affect their mental health and thought process. Validation is important for everyone, but seeking validation on social media is not cool. I keep telling my friends that social media is only one part of our lives, not our whole lives,” he explains.

The actor recently shot for filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus and is looking forward to its release. “We are waiting for the cinemas to open fully. The magic of cinema is awaited, as nothing can match up to that feeling of community viewing. We are desperate for things to get back to normal. We should be able to watch movies like we used to — by clapping, laughing and shouting together.”

Last year, director Mrigdeep Singh Lamba gave fans a reason to cheer as he announced that the third instalment of Fukrey is in the works. However, 'Fukrey 3', like many other projects, has not got off the ground due to the pandemic. In the interim, Lamba has reunited with the Fukrey boys — Varun Sharma aka Choocha and Manjot Singh — for the web series, 'Chutzpah'.  

Sharma is hoping to recreate the magic of the laugh riot with their latest outing, as he says, “Mrigdeep sir is my lucky mascot. He has been a source of support whenever I have tried to explore a new genre. Working on Chutzpah was like homecoming.”

The Sony LIV offering — which also features Tanya Maniktala of 'A Suitable Boy' fame and Elnaaz Norouzi — depicts how social media influences and dominates the lives of youngsters. “The success of the 'Fukrey' franchise made Varun and Manjot household names. I am glad to work with them again on this cracker of a script,” says Lamba.

When your film wins a National Award, it calls for a big celebration. And though actor Varun Sharma was thrilled when he heard that the Nitesh Tiwari directorial, Chhichhore, won Best Hindi Film, he couldn’t help but get emotional. “Winning the National Award for a film that will always hold a special place in my heart is a big validation. This one’s for Kammo,” says Sharma, referring to the name his character used for the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput in the film.

Looking back, he calls Chhichhore “a learning ground and an enriching experience”. He says, “When you work with a team of amazing actors, you feed off each other’s energies. I have made great friends during the shoot. The conversations and the fun that we had both on and off camera will always remain in my heart. It was my dream to work with Nitesh sir!”

Sharma, 31, calls the way Tiwari crafted the film “incredible” and says thar shooting for it felt like a vacation. “It was like reliving our college days. We knew that we were making something very special and hoped from the bottom of our hearts that it’d be received in the way that it has been. We are beyond happy that the film received a lot of love across demographics. As actors, that is what we live for,” he says.

Sharma can’t help but think about Rajput even more after the win. “The celebration was incomplete, with a bit of hollowness. But we know that he is the brightest star in the galaxy, who is revelling in the victory and is happily looking at us,” he says.

“Roohi is Stree’s crazier sister,” starts off Varun Sharma with a zany laugh, as we sit down for a chat ahead of the release of the film, which opens on big screens today. Accepting that the film was a challenge to prep for, the Punjabi boy says, “We have based it in a fictional town, but the accent is Moradabadi [twang from the UP-MP belt]. On the surface, it seemed simple, but it wasn’t easy to get the lehza right. I had to unlearn my [Punjabi accent]. This is the first time I got to explore a new language. Mrigdeep sir [Singh, writer], Gautam [Mehra, writer] and I worked for months together to get the authenticity right. Since the audience now is exposed to varied content, there’s no scope of cheating. It helped that I had Rajkummar Rao to complement me on screen.”

Comedy has been a stronghold for the actor since he played Choocha in the Fukrey franchise. Since then, he has often been cast as the comic relief in ensemble films. Ask him how difficult it is to up his ante and Sharma says, “There is constant pressure to prove yourself. Roohi should be different from my last film, Chhichhore  and that’s been an ongoing process.”

At a time when people believe last names matter, Sharma claims he is happier to be “known by my character names”. “That will be my biggest win. It’s a tough job to put a smile on anyone’s face. It’s doubly difficult to do it differently every time.”

But has he been deterred by the overt stereotyping? Sharma, whose next project is Ranveer Singh’s Cirkus, has often been told to take a break from comedy. “I don’t understand why I should stop doing what I am good at. I want to try my hand at other genres, but not at the cost of comedy. If someone casts me in a serious role, I will give it my all.”

While making Roohi, director Hardik Mehta was certain about incorporating a song that encapsulated the film’s theme. The horror comedy sees Janhvi Kapoor play the protagonist who is possessed by a ghost. Unaware of her predicament, Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma’s characters abduct her, leading to hilarious results. 

Sharing the first look of Panghat that drops today, the director says that the track depicts the duality of Kapoor’s character. “Panghat shows Roohi in two avatars — the beautiful bride, and the glamorous witch. Vijay Ganguly has choreographed it in a way that we see Roohi having fun with Raj and Varun’s characters in the song,” says Mehta, adding that the leading lady will “take everyone by surprise” in the dance number. 

The song, composed by Sachin-Jigar and penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, was shot at a city studio over two days last October. The music composer duo reveal that for the track, they were given a concise brief by the makers — the score had to be foot-tapping while retaining an air of eeriness that the film offers. The musician duo say, “Once in a while, you’re required to get a combination [of elements] for a song — quirky, catchy and modern yet familiar. That is Panghat for us.”

“I hope there are some surprises planned on the sets,” says actor Varun Sharma, who turns 31 today, adding he is going to be working on his birthday as that’s the way he likes it. “Being on the sets, filming this beautiful film, Cirkus, celebrating it with the crew will be fun. I wish to be with my family in the evening, cut a cake with them and get back again to face the camera, doing something that I love to do,” says Sharma.

Being a Punjabi, he admits he gets excited for birthdays but adds he likes to be a bit low-key. “Every birthday celebration is special and every year it’s a different vibe. I remember, two years ago, I was shooting in Amritsar and had celebrated my birthday in my home town, Jalandhar with my childhood friends. They came to surprise me, it was so sweet,” he reminisces.

Often people have goals and try to tick them off – be it buying a home, travelling, work or even marriage. So, what goals has he ticked off at 31? “I think I’m very content with the way my life is going. The biggest thing I think I’ve ticked off is my dream of becoming an actor. I got chances to play amazing characters which embedded me in people’s hearts. People smile when they look at me, I think that’s the biggest goal tick-off,” he shares.

Ask if marriage is a goal in the near future and he says, “With the grace of all, my mother has not started to push me for marriage until now.”

Soon after Diwali, Ranveer Singh ended his dry spell by facing the camera for Rohit Shetty's Cirkus. The actor-director duo, who have reunited after the resounding success of Simmba (2018), have been giving their own spin to William Shakespeare's acclaimed play, The Comedy of Errors, as they shoot the screen adaptation at Mehboob Studios in Bandra, in adherence with the on-set guidelines.

Known to wrap up his projects quickly, it is not surprising to hear that Shetty is already charting out the final schedule of the Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Sharma and Pooja Hegde starrer.

"Ranveer and the unit will head to Ooty in February for a week-long schedule to shoot the remaining portion of the movie. Rohit's love for the hill station is well-known with many of his movies having been filmed there, and Cirkus will be no exception. He has locked the locations where the cast will be canning pivotal outdoor sequences," reveals a source.

If all goes well, the filmmaker should be able to call it a wrap on the laugh riot by March. mid-day reached out to Shetty's team, which remained unavailable for comment.