I have expectations from myself
Varun Dhawan has changed. He is no longer the carefree boy, who was effortlessly setting the cash registers jingling every Friday. He now understands pressure and he realizes that he needs to keep up with expectations not only at the box office but beyond it too. How is he planning to excel? Shubarna Mukerji Shu of finds out Bollywood Insider from the star himself.
How difficult was it to shoulder a film like Kalank?
I have been telling all and sundry that Kalank was a career high. Not only was it my first period film, but it also had a huge canvas and a grand star cast. If and when a film as big as Kalank comes your way, you have to automatically assume that the audience will have a lot of expectation from it. I am well aware that the expectations are not only from the film as a whole, but also from me particularly.
If I am shouldering a film like this and looking forward to winning accolades from such a grand project, I also have to be prepared to shoulder the responsibilities that come with it. But one thing is for sure, I never fret over what other people are expecting from me, for I have a lot of expectations from myself. I am too busy trying to meet those. I don’t get around to the rest of the world.
What are these expectations? We would really like to hear about some benchmarks you have set for yourself…
I don’t have benchmarks as such but I have huge expectations. I have a certain vision for myself. I want my films to do well; to do a certain amount of business. But one must not misconstrue my vision as arrogance. I am ambitious and if I want to reach somewhere in life, I know I have to first believe that I can do it. If I cannot convince myself, how will I convince the world? If I don’t believe in myself, how will others believe in me?
Did Kalank meet your expectations?
It is too soon to talk about the figures but I will tell you this: years and years later, I will be still proud of this film. A lot of hard work and perseverance has gone into making this film. I am not talking only about my contribution - it is a very small part when you see the film as a whole. Each and everyone one - Alia (Bhatt), Sonakshi (Sinha), Aditya Roy Kapoor, Madhuri (Dixit) Ma’am, Sanju Baba, Kunal Khemu and others have put in their blood and sweat into the film. Our director Abhishek Varman has not slept for months to achieve his vision and perfection. Such dedication had to be rewarded and Kalank is a stunning film and I am very thankful for being a part of it.
Wasn’t this film supposed to be made decades ago with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji in the lead?
This film was Yash (Johar) Uncle’s dream; he really had great plans. But all those years ago, it didn’t work out. There were many reasons for that. After so many years a new director has added to Yash Uncle’s vision and turned film around. I walked into the set up only now, I can-not think about what it would have been had our seniors done it. I needed to do justice to what my director envisioned.
Tell us about the multistarrer experience, especially working with people you have been a fan of as a young boy…
It was a surreal experience to watch Madhuri Maam, Sanju Baba get into their character and share the frame with them. I am also a great fan of Alia, Sona and Adi… but somehow I was most jittery about Kunal Khemu. I have been a fan of his since I was a little kid and I watched him in Raja Hindustani. Even as a child Kunal was pitch perfect and a phenomenal actor.
How did Kunal take to this news?
He just laughed. He is a very private person. Even on the sets he would be sitting in his own corner Face Timing his daughter Inaaya.
Zafar, your character, is quite dark as compared to your usual commercial avatars, didn’t it sap you?
It was very tough to play Zafar. He is always at the edge of grey. He comes with so much baggage that it was breaking me emotionally to play him. Of course, even physically it was excruciating. I had to work very hard on my look and physical appeal. But it was worth it.
While you got all the praises, critics have not really praised the film, did that disappoint? I respect the critics and their take on the movies but my secret mission is to prove them wrong. My critics didn’t want to see me in a film like October and they never thought I would be doing a film like Sui Dhaaga. From the very beginning they were writing off my choices. I remember right after Student of the Year when I went on to sign Main Tera Hero, everyone thought it was a suicidal move. The film turned out to be a super hit at the box office.
Your first few films did make you a star but somehow it also did typecast you in a carefree-boy-with-a- clean-heart kind of roles…
I really believe that it is a cardinal sin for an actor to be typecast. I have never restricted myself. I love doing some high-octane drama, as much as I enjoy doing song and dance acts. I am glad that the times have changed. Today you can be a superstar as well as known as a fantastic actor. It wasn’t always like that in Bollywood. Look at the great Sanjeev Kumar. Throughout his career as an actor he was always touted for his acting prowess and his films went on to be super hits but he was never known as a superstar. That’s changed now.
Today I can enjoy playing Humpty Sharma and also be Dan my character in October.
Did you feel disappointed that the award functions completely gave October a miss?
Every day, I get at least one message telling me how fantastic October was. How it changed someone’s perspective, gave someone hope or simply stayed on someone’s mind; for me that’s my reward, that’s all the appreciation I need.
Weren’t Alia and you recently called the next Shah Rukh-Kajol?
I think it is too soon to make such a comparison. Both Alia and I don’t have that body of work that can justify such a comparison. Given both SRK and Kajol are still making movies, their repertoire is too vast.
So tell us a little about your future plans…
Right now, I am working in Street Dancer 3D, besides that there is dad’ (David Dhawan) Coolie No 1 in which I am reprising Govinda’s role. It is actually not exactly a remake of Coolie No 1 but an adaptation from that film. The film will have the essence of the original but will be completely different. Dad is yet to finalize the leading lady.
Your Dad has actually gone on record and said he has finalized your ‘real’ leading lady. Tell us about the wedding…
Dad said he was happy that’s all, a wedding is a conjecture drawn by the media. If and when it happens you will be informed too. I am a private person and I don’t really like speaking about my personal life. I am in my happy place right now, so be happy for me.
