Varun Dhawan is an actor of Indian cinema. He began acting in movies with “Student of the Year” released in 2012. The father of Varun, named David Dhawan, is one of the biggest names in cinema, being a very famous director. Varun rose to a highly popular face as an actor in India.
Varun Dhawan Personal & Family Details
| Full Name | Varun David Dhawan |
| Father’s Name | David Dhawan |
| Mother’s Name | Karuna Dhawan |
| Date of Birth | 24th April 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai, India |
| Height (Approximately) | 5’9” |
| Weight (Approximately) | 75 Kg |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Associated Brands | Fossil Watches, Philips, Navratna Cool, Panasonic, Frooti, and Maruti Suzuki |
| Girlfriends (Past and Current) | Sara (In USA) Taapsee Pannu (Rumoured) Natasha Dalal |
Family Members
- Father: David Dhawan
- Mother: Karuna Dhawan
- Elder Brother: Rohit Dhawan
- Wife/Spouse: Natasha Dalal
- Children: Lara (Born On 3rd June 2024)
Early Life and Education
Varun Dhawan was born on April 24, 1987. His father, David Dhawan, is a film director and his mother is Karuna Dhawan. Varun’s family comes from Punjab, and they follow the Hindu religion. His uncle, Anil Dhawan, is also an actor. Varun has an older brother; he is a film director too, with the name Rohit Dhawan.
Varun had always dreamed of being a wrestler when he was a little boy. He went to H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai to complete his HSC diploma. He later went to the UK to attend Nottingham Trent University and graduated in business studies.
He also assisted Karan Johar as an assistant director in the movie “My Name Is Khan” in 2010 before turning to acting.
Career Overview
In 2012, Varun Dhawan started acting in the movie “Student of the Year”. This film was directed by Karan Johar, and also, Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt played their roles. Varun Dhawan portrayed Rohan Nanda, who was the son of a rich businessman. He got appreciated and his film became super hit as it earned ₹1.09 billion worldwide.
He starred in the 2014 film “Main Tera Hero”, an entertaining movie that features him playing a naughty boy trapped in love. The film went well at the box office, grossing ₹780 million worldwide. He also did the romantic comedy “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania” in 2014, in which his character as the flirtatious Punjabi boy won many hearts and the movie went well collecting ₹1.11 billion.
In 2015, Varun appeared in a dramatic role in “Badlapur”. He portrayed Raghu, who seeks revenge against the killer of his family. The role was quite a departure from his regular fun-loving characters, and his performance earned critical acclaim. The movie revealed his acting capabilities, and he got a nomination for a Filmfare Award.
That year, he also appeared in the dance film “ABCD 2”, which is based on the real-life story of a dancer from Mumbai. The movie did well at the box office, earning ₹1.67 billion worldwide. Later in 2015, he appeared in “Dilwale”, a big action-comedy movie with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Although critics had mixed reviews, the film made over ₹3.75 billion worldwide.
Varun continued to rise in popularity with several successful films. In 2016, he was seen in “Dishoom”, an action-comedy film that made ₹1.2 billion globally. The following year, Varun worked in “Badrinath Ki Dulhania” with Alia Bhatt. The movie was a big hit, earning over ₹2 billion worldwide, and Varun’s performance was praised.
He also acted in the movie “Judwaa 2” in 2017, which was a remake of the 1997 movie “Judwaa”. By then, Varun had become one of the biggest stars in Bollywood.
He also got featured in two extremely contrasting films in 2018: “October” and “Sui Dhaaga”. In October, he portrayed the character of a silent, solemn Danish. He was praised by critics and ranked as one of his finest performances. Sui Dhaaga was a social drama, wherein he portrayed an ordinary man beginning a small-scale business with his wife. Here again, his role was much appreciated.
In 2019, Varun appeared in “Kalank”, a period drama set in the 1940s. This film did not do well at the box office, but Varun’s performance was liked by the critics. The following year, in 2020, he starred in “Street Dancer 3D”, which again did not fare well at the box office. He then starred with his father in “Coolie No. 1”, and the movie did not have much freshness.
In 2022, Varun made a successful comeback with “Jugjugg Jeeyo”, a comedy-drama on divorce. All in all, Varun Dhawan has had numerous successes in his career and is still experimenting with different types of roles in Bollywood. Not all films have been successful, but his talent and popularity have made him one of the most recognizable actors in India.
Filmography
| Films | |
| Year | Name |
| 2010 | My Name Is Khan |
| 2012 | Student of the Year |
| 2014 | Main Tera Hero |
| 2014 | Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania |
| 2015 | Badlapur |
| 2015 | ABCD 2 |
| 2015 | Dilwale |
| 2016 | Dishoom |
| 2017 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania |
| 2017 | Judwaa 2 |
| 2018 | October |
| 2018 | Nawabzaade |
| 2018 | Sui Dhaaga |
| 2019 | Kalank |
| 2020 | Street Dancer 3D |
| 2020 | Coolie No. 1 |
| 2021 | Antim: The Final Truth |
| 2022 | Jugjugg Jeeyo |
| 2022 | Bhediya |
| 2023 | Bawaal |
| 2023 | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani |
| 2024 | Munjya |
| 2024 | Stree 2 |
| 2024 | Baby John |
| Television | Discography |
| Citadel (2023) | “Lucky Tu Lucky Me” (2014) – Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania |
| Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024) | “Happy Birthday” (2015) – ABCD 2 |
Awards and Recognitions
| Award | Film | Year |
| Best Male Debut | Student of the Year | 2012 |
| Best Actor | Badlapur | 2015 |
| Best Actor | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | 2017 |
| Best Actor – Critics | October | 2018 |
| Best Actor – Critics | Bhediya | 2022 |
Controversies
A few of the controversies of which Varun Dhawan has been a part are as follows:
- COVID-19 Norms Violation: Varun Dhawan was criticised in 2021 for not adhering to the COVID-19 protocols while celebrating his wedding ceremonies in Alibaug, Maharashtra.
- Alia Bhatt Belly Controversy: Varun was also trolled over social media after he was spotted holding Alia Bhatt’s belly at one of their promotional event fetes.
- Kissing Kiara on the Cheek: Criticism for kissing Kiara Advani on the cheek was faced by Varun during a magazine cover shoot which angered a section of his fans and followers.
Some Interesting Facts About Varun Dhawan
- Varun Dhawan was a naughty kid. He used to fight with his siblings. His parents struggled to teach him lessons.
- While shooting Badlapur, Varun altered his lifestyle. He stopped attending parties and accompanying friends. He became so happy with solitude that his mother started asking his friends if everything is wrong.
- His dad, David Dhawan, disapproved of him debuting through a film his own company is producing. In fact, Varun’s dad wanted him to work somewhere and learn things in the process; it was a Karan Johar film which launched Varun.
- David Dhawan did not watch any part of Varun’s work in Student of the Year before the movie was released. Neither did he visit the sets while the film was being made.
- Varun Dhawan is a very great lover of wrestling since childhood and a great fan of the wrestler Dwayne Johnson.
FAQs
1. What is Varun Dhawan’s nickname?
Varun Dhawan is often called “VD” by his friends and fans.
2. Did Varun Dhawan ever participate in reality TV before entering Bollywood?
No, unlike many actors, he did not participate in reality shows before his acting career.
3. Which was the first commercial Varun Dhawan appeared in?
Before his film debut, Varun appeared in a Nestlé Munch commercial.
4. What is Varun Dhawan’s hidden talent?
Varun is a skilled mimicry artist and can imitate several Bollywood actors.
5. Who are Varun Dhawan’s best friends in Bollywood?
His closest friends in the industry include Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
6. Has Varun Dhawan directed or produced any film?
While he hasn’t directed a film, he worked as an assistant director for My Name is Khan (2010).
7. What is Varun Dhawan’s favorite holiday destination?
Varun loves traveling to the Maldives and London for vacations.
8. Which sports does Varun Dhawan enjoy?
He is an avid football fan and regularly plays in celebrity football matches.
9. Has Varun Dhawan ever done theater acting?
Yes, during his college days, Varun was actively involved in theater performances.
10. What is Varun Dhawan’s favorite workout routine?
He follows high-intensity functional training and is a fan of CrossFit workouts.
11. Did Varun Dhawan ever reject any Bollywood movie?
Yes, he reportedly turned down Andhadhun (2018) before Ayushmann Khurrana was cast.
12. What was the first luxury car Varun Dhawan bought?
His first luxury car purchase was an Audi Q7.
13. Is Varun Dhawan a vegetarian?
No, he is a non-vegetarian but prefers a high-protein diet.
14. What are Varun Dhawan’s favorite Bollywood movies?
He is a big fan of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994).
15. Has Varun Dhawan ever done a South Indian film remake?
Yes, Coolie No. 1 (2020) was a remake of the 1995 film, and Baby John (2024) is a remake of a Tamil film.
16. What is the name of Varun Dhawan’s pet dog?
His pet dog’s name is Joey, and he often shares pictures with him.
17. Which Hollywood actor inspires Varun Dhawan the most?
Varun has often mentioned that he looks up to Leonardo DiCaprio and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
18. Has Varun Dhawan worked in any music video?
Yes, apart from film songs, he starred in the music video High Rated Gabru with Guru Randhawa.
19. Which is Varun Dhawan’s most challenging role?
Varun considers his role in Badlapur (2015) as his most challenging performance.
20. Does Varun Dhawan own any sports teams?
He does not own a team but actively supports Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
