And he Conquers!

Seven films old, this charmer has led with his Midas touch. The most loved bloke in Bollywood, VARUN DHAWAN has delivered hits backto-back unswervingly. He’s not restricted to just being a ladies’man, but has proved his mettle in every arena. Amazing talent, good looks, chiselled physique and a clean heart are the attributes that have garnered him a safe and worthy swing at achieving the stardom he is currently relishing. He has the mantra to appeal to the masses, and knows how to win over the audience. A superstar that arrived early, but on the conquest of more is Varun, talking about his latest film Badrinath Ki Dulhania, and missing out on his friends and immediate family.

- Gayatri Nirmal

How did you get into the skin of the character of Badri so effortlessly?

When the film was narrated to me by Shashank (Khaitan), he had about five-six pages with him. And there was a dialogue in the audition scene which said, ‘Hamara naam hai Badrinath Bansal urff Badri. The minute I heard ‘Badri’ I was in shock. One of my closest friends Kavish’s pet name for me is Badri. He calls me Badri or Badarwa in masti. The very next moment, I ran to my balcony, called up Kavish and told him that Shashank had come over and he was calling me Badri. He said, ‘Arrey, do the film, sign it immediately. God has done this.’(laughs). So I said okay, and that’s what even I feel…

Are you closer to the character Humpty or Badri?

I’m very attached to Badri as a character right now. But if you ask me are there any similarities between me and Badri, there’s nothing.

The accent that you had in the film seemed effortless. How did you get it right?

Getting the accent on point was very difficult, and I give the entire credit for it to the director. He sat with me and we rehearsed for two months. Shashank has a problem with my voice, so I really worked hard on my voice in the film, modulating it and making it a little manly. He said, ‘Tu hamesha bachcha hi lagta hai har film mein, is mein thoda mard ban. (You always sound like a kid in every film, this time you have to be manly). So don’t get too emotional, and keep your romantic scenes a bit subtle too.’ So I had to keep all these things in mind. He basically removed the Varun out of me in this film, that’s how you saw a different person in Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

This was your third film with Alia (Bhatt). So, is it easier for you to work with her?