THERE’S STILL A LOT TO DO: VARUN

The actor says he doesn’t like “thinking individually” about his success; adds he has a “spiritual” connection with his audience and fans

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his has certainly been a good year for Varun Dhawan. The actor started 2017 on a high note when Badrinath Ki Dulhania entered the ₹100crore club, and just over six months later, he scored another ₹100 crore-grosser with Judwaa 2. Now, Varun has another feather in his cap —Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will unveil his wax statue early next year. We caught up with the actor to talk about his success, the new statue and more.

With backtoback ₹100cr films, a strong line up of new projects, and now a wax statue, do you feel you are at a career high?

I strongly feel that there’s still a lot of work to be done and we have a lot of catching up to do as an industry. As a person, I don’t like thinking individually about my success. I am very happy and grateful [for the successes], and hopefully, I would be able to give everyone — the audiences, exhibitors, distributors, producers and

the directors — much more happiness.

You must be kicked about your Madame Tussauds debut.

It was quite surprising for me when I was approached for it. I remember when I was a kid, whenever I would go abroad for holidays, I used to visit Madame Tussauds and click pictures of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. So, it’s a huge deal to be the youngest actor from India to get his own [wax] statue.

You will now join an esteemed list

of people with this statue. What does that mean to you?

It’s definitely an esteemed list, but I’ve made way into it because I did things my way. I’m going to continue walking that road and not change just because people feel that I have become a bigger star now. I will always do things my way.

Many feel that you have special connection with audience…

I feel that when I decide to do a film or anything else, they [the people] realise why I do it and that happens without me having to explain it to them. So, it is more of a spiritual thing than anything else.

Before Judwaa 2’s release, trade analysts felt that the

industry was going through a gloomy period. Was that playing on your mind?

Yes, it was to some extent. But Sajid (Nadiadwala; producer) sir was quite bullish. He and my dad (David Dhawan; director) were very happy, and that was the best part. So, in a way, the conviction of the people who I was working with was so strong that it rubbed off on me as well.

As you get a wax statue at Madame Tussauds, do you think it’s an indicator of your popularity?

One thing that I am absolutely aware of is that it has become possible only because of the fans. They wanted it and that’s why they [fans] made it happen. As an actor, I always want to do films for all demographics and entertain people across the globe.

You are experimenting with your film choices, but have you never thought of playing safe?

Not really. You make your [film] choices, and then one after the other, you release them. Of course, you can have your releases [planned] nicely, so that they come at the right intervals. One should be careful about that as no one wants the audience to get bored.

You have just started shooting for October. How has the experience been till now?

I said it in the first year of my career that I was dying to work with Shoojitda (Shoojit Sircar; film-maker). It’s only now that the opportunity has come up for me to work with him. I don’t want to talk much about the film. Let it come out and have its own life.