‘ALL IS WELL BETWEEN US’

Actor Varun Dhawan says there’s “no truth” to talks about a supposed tiff with Sidharth Malhotra; adds he wishes the latter’s next film, Ittefaq does even better than Judwaa 2

With back-to-back 100 crore hits — Badrinath Ki Dulhania (BKD) and Judwaa 2 in 2017, he is clearly on a career high. But even before soaking in all the hoopla and success, Varun Dhawan slipped out to Delhi to start shooting for Shoojit Sircar’s October. As the actor revels in Judwaa 2’s success — directed by his father, David Dhawan — we catch up with him for a quick chat about his life, career, his equation with Sidharth Malhotra and more. Now Judwaa 2 has become a bona fide hit. But in hindsight, were you ever scared about featuring in Judwaa’s (1997) rebooted version? Honestly, during the initial days, before the shoot started, I was a bit [anxious]. There was a sense of responsibility. But by that logic, I guess I was more nervous when BKD released and, in fact, most nervous when Main Tera Hero (2014) came out.

So, I feel those butterflies [in the stomach] are always going to be there. I wouldn’t say there were more [butterflies] this time, than what I usually experience. You have a great relationship with your father (David Dhawan) in real life. But when he wears the director’s hat, have you ever been scolded by him? Yes, he does that (laughs). But I pretty much follow all his instructions because in any case, I am very strict about my own work and performance. Also, murmurs about you and Sidharth not being on good terms refuse to die down… There is nothing [like that]. So, such talks have no truth to them at all. I really wish him well [for Ittefaq]. I’ve heard that it’s going to be an amazing film.

I hope it turns out to be great for Sid, Sonakshi (Sinha) and Akshaye sir (Khanna). In fact, I really hope that Ittefaq does well [at the box office] and becomes a bigger hit than Judwaa 2. I hope every film does well and why shouldn’t they?

Till ’90s, actors such as Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan would talk their heart out openly and minus any fear. But nowadays, everyone has to watch what they speak, especially with the advent of social media. Do you miss those days? Obviously, but since I was never a part of it, I don’t miss it in a very personal manner. As a kid, I have seen that era as well when there was no internet. I was around. But in the hindsight, internet has somewhere also helped us keep a lot of things in check. There are a lot of great things and superb movements that have come out of social media. You have to give it credit for that. You can bring in change as well as get a lot of good things done through social media. But yes, it’s true that it also gets misused by many.

PHOTO: ROHAN SHRESTHA Varun Dhawan