If Varun Dhawan had been a king, he would be King Midas – the one with a touch that turned everything to gold. Because that’s exactly what he has been doing with all his films. He is signing them and the next thing you know, the filmmakers are laughing all the way to their banks. We are seeing him make blockbusters out of basic scripts and if now is not the time to celebrate him, we don’t know when it will be. He has had a great 2017 what with two releases – Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 – both super hits, delivered at a time when the box office was going through a lull and needed saving. This year, he has already had one release in the form of Shoojit Sircar’s October, with a role that every actor would love to sink his teeth into. What’s even better is that he has a line-up of exciting films in his kitty too. Sui Dhaaga, Kalank, Rannbhoomi and Remo D’Souza’s dance film – all seem to be promising films, being produced by recognised banners. We are sure they will be a great addition to Varun’s already illustrious resume. But what is it that makes birthday boy Varun Dhawan tick? Let’s try to decode…
No formula is the new formula
Varun stormed into the industry only six years ago but one look at his career graph and you will have a hard time believing that he has been here only for so long. The kind of choices that he has been making in his nine-film long career, are promising to say the least. But does this mean that Varun has it all figured out? Has he, by a sheer stroke of luck or years of calculations, figured out the formula to churn out blockbusters? We don’t think so! If you take a look at his filmography, it is a healthy mix of entertainers and meaningful cinema – there’s no formula that the lad is adhering to. So, we must take a look at his roles.
Highlighting strengths
If you pay a little attention to each of the characters that Varun has played on screen, you will find that he has played to his strengths. He is only starting out and he knows that. So, instead of trying to impress the critics with a deep, nuanced performance, he is wooing the crowds in. As a producer’s son, the business of cinema is something that he is well-versed in and it shows. Most of his roles connect to the masses – he is playing one of them and they are loving it.
Let’s experiment
But that doesn’t mean that he is not growing as an actor. From time to time, we see him take up a film that defies our expectations. Who would have placed him as a cold-blooded murderer in Badlapur or the seemingly sensitive, brooding man in October? And yet here he is, trying to sink his teeth into roles that will classify as his career best. And for that, too, he should be applauded.
Basics matter
However, to be honest, none of this playing-to-his-strength or experimenting would have worked if Varun wasn’t a good actor. Study any character he has essayed – serious or frivolous – and you will know he has owned it. Be it with his charm and innocence or with grit writ large in his eyes – Varun has been impressing us with one dedicated performance after the other. And it is not just the critics’ appreciation that he has garnered.
Box-office game
If you take a close look at Varun’s box-office graph so far, you will be stunned to notice that that he has never delivered a flop! Varun Dhawan, in his 10-film long career, has done two off-beat films – Badlapur and October. While both of them started off slowly and didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, the actor was praised for his stellar act. Badlapur earned Rs 50 crore, and October has raked in Rs 39.33 crore so far. If his non-commercial fare, too, recovers its cost at the ticket windows, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him dominate the box office when he plays to the gallery.
It’s personal
Given that Varun has quite a fan-following and is quite active on social media – it is also commendable as to how he has managed his personal life. Not divulging details but also not shying away from walking hand-in-hand with his ladylove, he has ensured that he keeps his personal and professional lives separate. So while he is this public figure and a youth icon, he is also an enigma – and that in itself is an irony.
Given all these factors, we are not even surprised that the actor is the hit that he is. And with all the films that he has lined up, things are looking shiny and bright – as they should for someone who bails out the industry every time it needs to be rescued.
Happy Birthday, Varun, here’s wishing you a year of blockbusters…