As the credits rolled on Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari last weekend, Varun Dhawan found himself at the center of yet another box-office skirmish. The romantic comedy, marking his third collaboration with director Shashank Khaitan and co-star Janhvi Kapoor, has garnered praise for its light-hearted banter and Dhawan’s effortless comic timing. Yet, with domestic collections hovering around ₹33 crore by its sixth day—trailing far behind expectations—the film underscores the unpredictable tides of Bollywood.
At 38, Dhawan remains a fixture in Hindi cinema, his career a tapestry of unbroken hits, critical detours, and personal milestones. This retrospective examines the actor’s journey from a film family scion to a resilient performer, amid an industry grappling with post-pandemic shifts and audience fatigue.
Table of Contents
Roots in the Spotlight: A Family Legacy
Born on April 24, 1987, in Mumbai, Varun Dhawan entered a world already illuminated by the arc lights of Bollywood. His father, David Dhawan, is a prolific director known for slapstick comedies like Coolie No. 1 (1995) and Judwaa (1997), while his uncle Anil Dhawan carved a niche as a character actor in the 1970s and ’80s. The family’s Punjabi Hindu roots run deep in the industry; cousins include directors Punit Malhotra and Kunal Kohli, and fashion designer Manish Malhotra is a close relative. This “nepo” tag—nepotism shorthand—has shadowed Dhawan since debut, though he often credits it as both privilege and pressure.
Dhawan pursued a Bachelor of Science in e-business from Nottingham Trent University in the UK, a choice reflecting his father’s pragmatic advice to secure a fallback. Back in Mumbai, he dabbled in modeling and theatre before assisting on Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan (2010). “I was the guy fetching chai and learning the ropes,” Dhawan recalled in a 2013 interview, highlighting his grounded start despite the silver-spoon narrative.
| Family Members in Entertainment | Relation | Notable Works |
|---|---|---|
| David Dhawan | Father | Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Judwaa (1997) |
| Rohit Dhawan | Brother | Desi Boyz (2011), Dishoom (2016) |
| Anil Dhawan | Uncle | Khel Khel Mein (1975), Naseeb (1981) |
| Manish Malhotra | Uncle | Costume designer for Veer-Zaara (2004) |
| Punit Malhotra | Cousin | I Hate Luv Storys (2010), Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) |
This table illustrates the Dhawan clan’s extensive influence, a network that facilitated early breaks but also fueled debates on meritocracy in Bollywood.
Breaking In: Debut and Early Hustle
Dhawan’s silver-screen baptism came with Student of the Year (2012), Johar’s glossy teen drama co-starring Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. As the cocky Rohan Nanda, Dhawan embodied youthful bravado, earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Male Debut. The film grossed ₹109 crore worldwide, launching the trio as the “fresh faces” of a new Bollywood era. Critics noted his charisma but questioned depth; trade analyst Taran Adarsh called it “a star-is-born moment with training wheels.”
The follow-up, Main Tera Hero (2014)—directed by his father—leaned into comedy, netting ₹78 crore and cementing Dhawan’s mass appeal. Yet, it was Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), another Khaitan outing, that struck gold at ₹111 crore, blending romance with small-town charm. Dhawan’s portrayal of the bumbling Humpty drew comparisons to Shah Rukh Khan’s early roles, signaling his shift from sidekick to leading man.
The Hit Machine: Dominance from 2015 to 2018
Dhawan’s mid-2010s run was a box-office blitzkrieg. From 2012 to 2018, he delivered 11 consecutive successes, a streak unmatched by contemporaries. Badlapur (2015) marked a pivot to grit, with Dhawan as a vengeful widower; his raw intensity fetched a Best Actor Filmfare nod and ₹79 crore earnings. The dance spectacle ABCD 2 (2015) followed, raking in ₹167 crore and showcasing his athleticism.
Collaborations amplified his reach: Dilwale (2015) with Shah Rukh Khan hauled ₹375 crore, while Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017) and Judwaa 2 (2017)—a remake of his father’s 1997 hit—each crossed ₹200 crore. Forbes India ranked him 15th on its 2018 Celebrity 100 list, estimating his income at ₹49.58 crore. “Varun is the safe bet for producers,” observed film historian Anupama Chopra in 2017, crediting his versatility in action (Dishoom, 2016) and romance.
| Select Filmography Highlights (2012–2018) | Year | Role | Worldwide Gross (₹ Crore) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student of the Year | 2012 | Rohan Nanda | 109 | Hit |
| Main Tera Hero | 2014 | Seenu Prasad | 78 | Hit |
| Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania | 2014 | Humpty Sharma | 111 | Blockbuster |
| Badlapur | 2015 | Raghav Purohit | 79 | Semi-Hit |
| ABCD 2 | 2015 | Suresh Mukund | 167 | Blockbuster |
| Dilwale | 2015 | Veer Bakshi | 375 | All-Time Blockbuster |
| Badrinath Ki Dulhania | 2017 | Badri Bansal | 200+ | Blockbuster |
| Judwaa 2 | 2017 | Raja/Prem Malhotra | 200+ | Blockbuster |
These entries highlight Dhawan’s commercial zenith, though detractors argued his films prioritized formula over innovation.
Stumbles and Shifts: The Post-2018 Reckoning
The streak snapped with Kalank (2019), an ensemble drama that fizzled at ₹146 crore amid script woes. The COVID-19 era exacerbated challenges: Street Dancer 3D (2020) and the remake Coolie No. 1 (2020, streamed on Amazon Prime) faced tepid responses, the latter entangled in the 2020 nepotism row following Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Dhawan, perceived as an industry insider, defended his path but acknowledged the scrutiny.
October (2018) and Sui Dhaaga (2018) offered critical balm—his sensitive turn as a grieving intern in the former earned a Filmfare Critics’ nod—but commercial consistency waned. Bawaal (2023), a Prime Video release, ignited controversy for trivializing the Holocaust, drawing ire from Jewish groups and prompting an apology from the team. Box-office bombs like Baby John (2024), a Theri remake grossing under ₹50 crore, tested resilience.
Yet, reinvention beckoned. Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022) revived family entertainer vibes at ₹135 crore, while Bhediya (2022) injected horror-comedy flair into Dinesh Vijan’s universe. His OTT foray, Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024), as spy Bunny Gambhir, won him Best Actor (Popular Choice) at the 2025 News18 Showsha Reel Awards, praising his action chops.
Fatherhood and Beyond: Personal Anchors
Dhawan married longtime partner Natasha Dalal, a fashion designer, in an intimate January 2021 ceremony amid pandemic restrictions. Their daughter, Lara, arrived in June 2024, prompting Dhawan to share glimpses of paternity’s joys—and juggles—on social media. A self-professed ISKCON devotee, he balances spirituality with fitness, often hosting award shows (e.g., 2013 Stardust with Malhotra) and endorsing causes like FC Goa since 2014.
Philanthropy dots his ledger: ₹30 lakh to PM-CARES in 2020, and a 2013 concert for Uttarakhand flood victims. Controversies remain sparse beyond Bawaal, though recent gossip about “scene-cutting” insecurities—denied by Dhawan as “baseless”—stirs tabloid waters.
| Key Awards and Nominations | Year | Award | Film/Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filmfare | 2013 | Best Male Debut | Student of the Year | Nominated |
| Filmfare | 2016 | Best Actor | Badlapur | Nominated |
| Filmfare | 2018 | Best Actor (Critics) | October | Won |
| IIFA | 2015 | Best Performance in a Comic Role | Main Tera Hero | Won |
| Zee Cine | 2018 | Best Actor | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Won |
| News18 Showsha Reel | 2025 | Best Actor (Popular Choice) | Citadel: Honey Bunny | Won |
This selection from his 38 accolades underscores selective acclaim amid prolific output.
Horizons Ahead: Border 2 and Beyond
As Sunny Sanskari limps toward ₹50 crore—beating Deva‘s domestic tally but underscoring rom-com saturation—Dhawan eyes redemption. Filming for Border 2 (2026), a war epic with Sunny Deol and Diljit Dosanjh, commenced in December 2024, promising patriotic heft. Cameos in Munjya (2024), Stree 2 (2024), and Thamma (2025) keep him in the horror-comedy orbit, while unannounced projects like Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai hint at rom-com returns.
In an industry where stars like Akshay Kumar pivot to pan-India tales, Dhawan’s Hindi heartland focus—bolstered by 1.5 billion Instagram followers—positions him as enduring, if evolving. “I’ve had flops; they teach you,” he told reporters last week, amid ramp walks at Bombay Times Fashion Week. At 38, Dhawan’s narrative isn’t triumph’s monologue but a dialogue with reinvention, mirroring Bollywood’s own flux.
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Last Updated on: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 10:43 pm by Siddhant Jain | Published by: Siddhant Jain on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 10:43 pm | News Categories: News, India
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