Varun Dhawan: Shah Rukh Khan Is a Born Leader Who Lets the Entire Team

R.M. VIJAYAKAR, Special to India-West | Posted 13 hours ago

MUMBAI " He's the most grounded of the GenY actors. He is also four films old (minus a flop) and is set to release his fifth film, "Dilwale," by any standards a blockbuster. Now which of these is cause and which is effect is a matter of opinion, but Varun Dhawan is a firm believer in the view that the success of a film is teamwork, and this team is comprised of the producer, director, actors, composer and lyricist. "I am glad you included the music director and lyricist," he says soberly.

Excerpts from an interview with the only GenY actor who could lay claim to the hallowed word "superstar":

Q: How would you explain the lack of flops " judgment or luck?

A: I think that it is instinct. A lot of it comes from the films I watched since I was a kid that gave me a sense of what works and what does not.

Q: Upcoming actors have worked with established superstars before moving up on their own. Like Sanjeev Kumar working with Dilip Kumar in "Sunghursh," Shah Rukh Khan with Rishi Kapoor in "Deewana," and Sidharth Malhotra with Akshay Kumar in "Brothers." And now it is you with Shah Rukh Khan.

A: I think that it is very important we do that as actors " it gets us noticed. But essentially I do a film for the director who is making a film. In this case, there are some more reasons: One, the presence of both Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, the iconic pair on whose films I grew up, especially "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge," and also the fact that this is a film on pure brotherly bonding and love, rather than conflict between brothers, which for me is completely relatable.

But when I was offered the film, I only knew that it was Rohit Shetty's film. I did not know that Shah Rukh-sir was involved " though I had decided to sign the film in my head. And then came the news that it was a Red Chillies film with Kajol and him!

Q: You worked with your father in your second film "Main Tera Hero" and are now working with your brother Rohit Dhawan as director in "Dishoom."

A: Yes, Rohit is my inspiration as I have always said. Our sensibilities match completely "we like the same kind of movies, and we have the same tastes in various aspects of the making of a film. I am very excited about "Dishoom."

Q: Who are your inspirations among actors?

A: There are many: Tom Hardy, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio abroad, and Govinda, Salman Khan and Dev Anand here. People ask me why I act like Govinda or Salman sometimes " but some small touches come in naturally, and I do not stop that, because I don't copy them; I get inspired. How can anyone possibly become a Govinda or a Salman Khan by imitating them?

Q: Which are the kinds of movies you love to watch " and would want to do as an actor?

A: I have not done too many genres (smiles), but I must definitely mention that we must progress in animation films that I too would like to do, and expand our cinema generally, now that giant strides have been made in technology. I love to watch all kinds of films " my brother and I love the movies of Ridley Scott in particular " and I am a big fan of horror films and would like to do a good one.

But we must make sure the quality is right up there " ek to aadmi (at least one person must be) hidden in the huge Indian population who can raise it! Also sci-fi as a genre has not been explored much besides "Mr. India" and "Krrish."

Even comedy as a genre has hardly been done by my generation of actors. This year there's only been "Pyaar Ka Punch-Nama 2."

Q: Having done "Badlapur" along with your other films, what do you as an actor think of the so-called "mass-class" divide?

A: I think that the masses are the real classes! Most of our mainstream filmmakers and actors are there in films for passion, not for money. We must, for example, give all the Khans their due " it's not easy for anyone to stay on for 25 years, because you have to win and maintain the love of the people to achieve that.

As an actor, I know what I have to do " so I will always do a different film after three or four entertainers. "Badlapur" got me incredible recognition and love " it is the most talked-about of my four films. But everyone has expectations from me, and I must fulfill them. And it is far more important to do what people want from you than only doing what we as artistes want.

Q: To return to "Dilwale," when we came to Hyderabad, we were not allowed to tape or write all that you people told us. So could you tell us now about your experiences with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol?

A: I think that Shah Rukh-sir is a born leader who takes the entire team along with him. He makes sure that he gives you your space to shine and in fact helps you do so. When I worked on "Dilwale," I thought I knew something about marketing a film. But he takes that to another level altogether! Also, when we went to London recently, I realized how BIG Shah Rukh-sir is there. We were featured on Sky News, the national television network there, and they described him as one of the biggest stars in the world.

And I am VERY lucky that Kajol ma'am likes me. We were on the same wavelength and would rib everyone else! And behind her amazing switch-on, switch-off ease before the camera " she would be laughing before a completely intense scene and would also have fun while shooting it brilliantly " she is an amazingly disciplined and unique actress. Such spontaneity is possible only when you are actually prepared from within. The process must always be inside her!

Q: Finally, how do you react to adverse remarks and criticism on social networking sites?

A: With such avenues opening up, one needs to be a bit thick-skinned. But on Twitter, I have a lot of children following me, so I am spared from such things!