Varun Dhawan Reviews Roundup - OCTOBER. Part 1
Varun Dhawan plays Dan as if caring were new to him. It is an emotionally wrenched character, one who loses his appetite without realising it. This is a controlled, remarkably unselfconscious performance, one where Dhawan uses insolence as a defence mechanism and treats a Delhi Police do-not-cross sign as if it were a suggestion. He is immensely believable, especially regarding his self-centred motivation, as Dan insinuates himself into Shiuli's story and keeps telling himself that he matters. He tapes his own pictures to the inside of Shiuli's bed, and while these are photographs where he is boyishly posing with that cheeky grin we know so well, yet - because of how fantastic the actor is here - he seems unrecognisable. The aimless are often the guileless.
- Raja Sen (5 Stars)
Varun Dhawan's best performance till date he plays Dan, a freedom loving hotel management trainee who is shocked by an accident and tries his best to solve the problem in the way he knows best by being there for the family. He is the breath of fresh air in what would be an otherwise sombre movie.
- Manju Ramanan
Even the unlikely casting of the super-star Dhawan is very much part of the sweet detailing. There's something about the age of adult innocence 21, in the lead character's casethat you wholly appreciate, or even long for, only when you're not 21 anymore; and of course, you'll never be. That endearing purity very much naturally shows on Dhawan's face. How else would you be able to explain, on screen, this strange, visceral sort of care/attraction for an unconscious girl especially with zero back-story on the boy himself?
- Mid day (Mayank Shekhar)
Your heart goes out to Dan, played impeccably by Dhawan, who's stripped off all the trademark Bollywood macho hero stamps. He's a happily miserable bloke and his eccentricities make for slivers of hope in this otherwise sleep-inducing drama.
- Gulf News
In the performance department, Varun is a revelation. The actor, who is often spoken of as the ideal successor for Salman Khan's Judwaa-type movies, shows you how capable he is of delivering a nuanced performance. He did that earlier in Badlapur, he does it again here. He makes you laugh, cry and love him unconditionally. And by the end of the film, you want to take Dan home to meet your mom.
- Meena Iyer (DNA India)
Varun Dhawan drops the Bollywood hero's garb in the most understated and finest performance of his career. Shoojit brilliantly moulds Varun into Dan, making you forget that you ever saw him grooving shirtless on screen before.
-Times of India
Varun Dhawan is such an earnest performer it breaks my heart. He does sometimes underline an emotion by doing the obvious but he is consistently melancholic throughout the film packing one of his best performances.
- Masala magazine
Juhi Chaturvedi has gambled at huge risk penning the character of Dan. Varun Dhawan justifies each and every word written for him. His blunt yet true-to-heart portrayal of Dan is spell-bounding.Was this the same guy who swayed us away with his over-the-top performance as twins in his last film? There always come one movie in every actor's career which sets the parameter of his versatility and October is one such movie for Varun Dhawan. His portrayal of Dan is so effortless; at times you just can't believe this guy is acting.
More than Varun Dhawan's performance, Dan has this so realistic traits like stammering a bit while talking which makes one believe he isn't delivering any dialogue but speaking according to the situation.
- Koi Moi India
Let me take a moment here to gush over Varun Dhawan. What an absolute delight he is! A far cry from his street-smart avatar in his last movie outing, Varun is subdued to the point of being unrecognisable in the film. He is a study in innocence. Don't be surprised if you find girls around you squealing in delight at his naivete. There are times when the film gets a little too much to handle and it is then that Varun's charm comes to its rescue. Varun runs quite a one-man show.
- Ankita Chaurasia (Bollywood Life)
Varun Dhawan proves yet again (after Badlapur) that he's not just a dancing star who is out to raise laughs alongside. This Dhawan is an actor.
Watch him in the scene where he loses it and pounces on a hotel guest. Watch him in the scene where his voice quivers while talking to Banita Sandhu's mother. Watch him in the scene where he gets last warning to shape up or ship out on his job, which barely makes his two ends meet.
-Vickey Lalwani (Spotboye)
Dhawan has outturned himself through October. He is a regular bloke who is not trying to impress. He is sweet, and loveable by default but he is stubborn too. It is his stubbornness that transcends into Dan and through him to Suili that makes the connect, the bond so precious. It is clear that this was Varun's I-will-prove-my-detractors-wrong moment and he totally nailed it. You expect him to go over-the-top in a few scenes but he is visibly reigned in.
- Shubarna Mukherjee
Varun Dhawan is restrained and mature. His humour is innate, but his understanding of pain and how it affects the human behaviour is even better. It's a terrific performance, his best for sure.
- Hindustan Times (Rohit Vats)
Varun effortlessly steps into the world of Dan, and does a remarkable job. The simplicity with which he portrays this character is commendable! A flawless act with great range, that proves his versatility, and superstardom in the industry today. Take a bow, VD!!
-Priya Adivarekar
Can I say October is Varun Dhawan's best performance till date? Oh yes, I can! Shorn of his stardom or his entertaining quirks, this is quite a disarming performance from an actor, who is more known for his Dishooms and Judwaa 2s. October rides on the broad shoulders of Varun and he never lets his director down even for a moment. You will fall in love with the laid-back innocence of his character and will feel for him when reality check drives a wedge between him and Shiuli.
-Sreeju Sudhakaran
Varun Dhawan is a brilliant actor but, sadly, he is only known for his comic-capers. Badlapur was a good change, but then the actor again went back to doing what he is always good at - comedy. October comes as a complete surprise wherein he showcases a different side of his acting prowess. He comes out of his comfort zone like a boss and stuns with his impassioned act. Here, Varun plays an emotionally-charged character who is ready to go all out to be with the girl initially he has no inkling about her liking for him and vice versa. Even for a single second, you will not see him go overboard. He remains in his character throughout the film, and by the time the credits roll, you find yourself in love with Dan. Believe us, Varun Dhawan has delivered his career's best performance in October.
-Mohnish Singh
Varun Dhawan plays Dan pitch perfect. He is stripped off his Bollywood hero shenanigans no rippling muscles, no hot stepping dance or whistle inducing dialogues. It's sheer acting prowess and the brilliant portrayal of a character who is torn between what he thinks he should do and what everyone else asks him to do. A tussle between his mind and heart. Dan decides to follow his heart. Hidden behind the temperamental Dan, is a deeply sensitive soul who can't get Shiuli out of his mind. He also ends up being the voice of reason and hope to Shiuli's mother, who must deal with hospital bills and pesky relatives.
- Sreeparna Sengupta
There is a scene where the doctor asks Shiuli to respond to the question whether she knows Dan, and she stays blank. The innocence with which Varun plays it out is heartbreaking. But that's the soul of this film, its astute characterisation. Varun is top notch in the movie. Yes, it's nothing like what he has ever played and yet it's a performance so straight from the heart that he bowls you over with it. He is nuanced and consistent, pretty much how Sircar would have wanted him to be.
- Pinkvilla
But the one thing that will surprise anyone who goes in to see this movie is Varun Dhawan. Dhawan showcases his best performances in the 6 years long career. Yes, Badlapur was great but one-dimensional, this movie brings out emotions out of an actor who you have seen pelvic thrusting in all of his movies.
- News X
Varun Dhawan's deep understanding of what makes a character as seemingly overbearing as Dan bring out his sensitive side , navigates the film's simple elegant structure through a maze of life-transforming experiences which convey
- Zee News
Varun Dhawan is the SOUL of OCTOBER and is the glue who keeps the film tied together. He gets to play a very different character that is positive but also has certain annoying habits. But Varun ensures that in the long run, Dan doesn't turn out to be an irritating person. The audience hoots for him as he struggles to heal Shiuli and this aspect would surely be loved by the viewers.
- Bollywood Hungama
Best Actor Alert: Varun Dhawan is so so endearing, honest, handsome, charming and funny in October!!! I stayed with you and felt whatever you felt in the film. At the end of the film wanted to just hug you. Your performance has to win you Best Actor for sure.
- Priya Gupta
Dan's character has been written with much detailing and the film is all about him. Varun Dhawan plays the character of myriad shades with utmost charm. You fall in love with Dan, crying along with him and also laughing at him. There is hardly any acting from his side showing that less is more. Same is with his dialogue delivery style which seems much like usual conversation. He speaks more with his innocent eyes and expressions. The way he gives excuse to his boss, interacts with nurse and hospital guard seems so unalloyed. Your heart goes out to Dan when you see him juggling between hospital and hotel, that too selflessly. Your mind questions you: Do such people really exist? If not, you wish they would have. After Badlapur, once again Varun has proved his acting chops through this film.
-NDTV
Varun takes you on a ride of emotions but just sad, depressing or the ones that make you think, but he makes you laugh, a lot. Varun hasn't taken a risk by portraying this role, because its no risk when he has performed so well.
-Sanyukta Thakare (Bollywood Helpline)
Varun Dhawan sheds his popular image of an entertainer and delivers a nuanced performance as Dan. He is controlled, rightly subtle and piously into the skin of Dan in this song less story about love.
- Glam Sham
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