HERE COMES SANTA VARUN!
On Christmas this year, Varun Dhawan decides to “spread cheer and joy” at an orphanage; calls it “an extremely special and enriching” experience
What’s your idea of Christmas? Carols, cakes, midnight mass and, of course, Santa Claus. Right? For actor Varun Dhawan too, these things are synonymous with Christmas but this year, the actor decided to do something different — he spent time with the kids of St. Catherine Of Siena School for destitute children and orphanage in Bandra.
Did you love having a different kind of Christmas celebration?
Yes, it was extremely special and isn’t that the whole idea of Christmas? Giving back in some way to spread cheer and joy. I feel I truly celebrated Christmas this time. I had gone to the same orphanage when I was promoting Badrinath Ki Dulhania (BKD), and I had promised the kids that I would be back. And Christmas was a great time to visit again. Last time, I remember a brother in the orphanage had told me that the kids didn’t have enough school bags. So, I got them chocolates, but I also made sure that I got school bags for them.
Do such things make you feel extremely content?
More than feeling content, it was a good experience. Not just for Christmas, the whole idea of life should be to spread happiness and positivity. And now that people like me because of films, I try to do that once in a while and in different ways. I am happy that this time, HT Café and I partnered for the same. As we grow older, I feel we all have to be Santa Clauses in each other’s lives. If you have the means to spread cheer and joy, do that because it really feels good.
What are your earliest Christmas memories?
I remember my mother going for the midnight mass very often to St. Andrews Church or Mount Mary (both in Bandra), lighting candles and praying. I vividly remember accompanying her so many times. The whole atmosphere with festivities, candles and people singing Christmas carols etc., is very peaceful. In fact, I used to love singing carols (laughs). Also, my father was always like a real life Santa Claus so that was a lot of fun for us.
Is there someone who has been a real life Santa for you?
I know I am choosing a woman but it has to be my mother. Be it being awake till 3am in the morning helping me make my art and craft projects for school, or getting me a watch that I really wanted, or doing up my new house now, and so many other things, my mother has been real Santa. I would also call Karan Johar my Santa Claus. I call him, ‘Papa Johar’ or ‘P Johar’ (laughs).
What’s the plan for this Christmas?
I have just shifted into my new house that my mother has designed. So, in all likelihood, I will celebrate Christmas at my new home, which is exactly one floor below my parents’ house. Probably, a couple of friends will come over and my family is also around. So, I will stay indoors this year.
On the work front, you had a great year with BKD and Judwaa 2…
Yes, 2017 has been an exceptional year. It’s been a (Clockwise) Varun spent almost an hour with kids as he cut cakes, danced, and posed for innumerable pictures with them massive high for me. As an actor, you want to enjoy this kind of love, especially when films in general don’t do well. Also, when films like BKD and Judwaa 2 do so well, it proves that laughter is the best medicine. People want to be entertained and what’s going to matter the most is just that — entertaining audiences.
What would you ask Santa for?
I would ask him for a pollution-free Christmas and New Year. I am not trying to preach but as a society, we all have to collectively make the effort and start taking care [of the environment].