Varun Dhawan: Nepotism exists in the industry'
THAT TWINKLE IN HIS EYES, HIS IMPISH GRIN AND COMIC ONSCREEN TIMING COME NATURALLY; HE'S A BORN PRANKSTER
Let's say my tryst with mischief started early. I was in standard 6 and there was a new, slightly nervous teacher who had joined our school. A wager had been laid that a student should walk up to him and say a bad word out loud. I went up to him in front of the class, cleared my throat, and mumbled about wanting a glass of water. He asked me to speak up, and I shouted, F*&k off'. You could hear a pin drop in the silence that ensued. I looked at the aghast teacher's face and repeated, For cough.' He didn't realise, but the bet had been aced. Varun ends this tale hoping mummy won't read the interview. As though on cue, I hear his mum enter the room to check on him and he laughs, "It's a family break-cum-work schedule. My mother is here shopping for stuff for my new pad that I've bought in the same building as my parents.
"THE POWER OF DECIDING WHO WILL BE A SUCCESS OR NOT LIES WITH THE AUDIENCE EVENTUALLY."
Working with dad is Varun's dream-come-true. "Which doesn't mean I don't get shouted at. He treats me the same as all actors, but it's great fun teaming up with him. After Main Tera Hero did so well, our next has to live up to many expectations. So this son of David Dhawan, protg of Karan Johar, and one-half of the hit pair with Alia Bhatt needs to tackle the elephant in the roomnepotism in the film industry. After Kangana Ranaut single-handedly shook up the self-promoting mechanism of the showbiz clan, what is Varun's take on it? "It's the truth. Nepotism exists in the industry and has been there for a while. Kangana must be correct in her own experience. But the power of deciding who will be a success or not lies with the audience eventually. The topic made for great reading material incidentally.
And then he cracks me up with: "In fact, all of us are being asked the same question ever since the controversy erupted. Arjun Kapoor, who was promoting his film, Half Girlfriend, has apologised multiple times in press conferences on behalf of the whole industry. Varun is right about the actor's karmic cycle here. For a star kid, a launch pad can be planned, mega commercials can be pumped in, and the whole marketing machinery can work overtime, but the destiny of an actor lies with the movie-goer. Our coverboy has seen hits after hits and he has a philosophical take on it. "The term success is misinterpreted. It is easy to create a perception. True success is in getting that satisfaction at the end of the day. Your heart has to feel content. I can't sleep well unless I give my 500 per cent to a task. Which is perhaps why I am turning into an insomniac!
The younger one among two boys, Varun admits he is the pampered one. "Yet my mom is extremely critical of my work. She is also very ambitious and has instilled the drive in me. Like even today, if she sees me unwell, she won't let me step back; instead she'll come and talk me out of it. Mum wants me to go out and do well. And she prepares me for the worst. We read about how millennials feel depressed when things don't go their way, but with my mom around, I know I can take on the world.
Varun recounts a recent episode when the news of Syria attacks had him feeling low. He had yet again turned to his mom who told him that as a young influencer, he had the power to change the world, through the powerful medium of cinema. His kind of cinema, though successful, is not exactly cerebral. But he believes in it. He feels that a message interwoven within commercial cinema can have a larger impact. Badrinath Ki Dulhania earns that pride of place for him. "It was about an independent girl played by Alia, and my sister-in-law Jhanvi was mighty impressed with it. Hers is the vote of approval I seek for all my movies. She was the first one to see both Badlapur and Badrinath... She gives me honest feedback. I have to say, before I go to anybody for advice on movies or even life, it is Jhanvi who I turn to.
"THERE'S A SPECIAL SOMEONE IN MY LIFE; AT THIS STAGE THOUGH I PREFER NOT TO SPEAK ABOUT HER."
Apart from his mum and sister-in-law, there is another important woman in his life, but as Varun says, "Yes, there's a special someone in my life; at this stage though I prefer not to speak about her. She is not from the industry and I'd like to keep her out of the media circus.
Ask him about what he's looking for in a life partner and he's quick to take umbrage, "I won't carry a checklist; she's a person after all. Truth be told, I love his reaction. Behind that wicked, fun faade is a sensitive soul. Marriage to him means a mix of love, trust and honesty. In terms of an onscreen character that comes closest to his kind of life partner, he chooses Alia's character Vaidehi from Badrinath. "She played a today's womanan ambitious girl with her own ideals. Also Yami's character Nisha from Badlapur was quite close to the sort of person I'm looking for.
Apart from the onscreen chemistry he shares with Alia Bhatt, there is obviously an off-screen camaraderie. "My relationship with Alia has evolved over the years. When we worked together in Student Of The Year, she was young and fresh; by the time we did Badrinath together, she had matured as an actor. There's a lot that doesn't need to be said between us; we understand each other better. So yes, ours is the best chemistry. And the rumours? "My equation with Alia remains unaffected despite the rumours. People will talk. We put our heads down and work.
Work, the thing his brother Rohit made him do many years ago when he had to convince his parents about his noble intentions at 4 in the morning when found surrounded by a few girls in a neighbourhood apartment. "Okay fine, it was too late for a teenager. My friends and I had just returned from Fire & Ice, a nightclub, and it was midnight, well within my curfew hours. As I was going up to my apartment, I met a few girls from my building who had an impromptu party going on. My phone died and we partied the night away. Obviously my parents after having called me frantically through the night were worried sick and Rohit spotted me with the girls, slapped me and then went up and told my parents everything. This, after I pleaded him not to. And I got it! It happened so many years ago, but I still hold it against my brother, he laughs.
That mischief is intact. In his London outdoor, Varun along with Jacqueline Fernandes and the crew members frequented various pubs. And then some members of the crew got thrown out. He doesn't divulge too many details about this episode, but does talk about how Jacqueline keeps him entertained by speaking in different accents. His other co-star Taapsee Pannu doesn't spare him either. "Taapsee calls me kutta. In her Sardarni manner, she insists on calling me that, man.
"AAMIR KHAN INSPIRES. HIS DANGAL WAS AWESOME. RANBIR KAPOOR IS LIKE AN ELDER BROTHER.
While he gets along famously with his women co-stars, the men in the industry he admires are Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor. "Aamir Khan inspires. His Dangal was awesome. Ranbir's preparation for Dutt is equally amazing. His Barfi was brilliant. In fact, he is like an elder brother. He gives me sound advice, but only after we're done discussing girls. That naughty grin again; it's visible even on the phone.
Sampoorna
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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