Rajeev Masand interviews Varun Dhawan on Now Showing

Rajeev Masand: The reactions to your performance in October have been extraordinary, But when the praise is so loud and overwhelming do you also spare a thought for criticisms as well?

Varun Dhawan: The thing with 2018 is that it is the age of social media, there are so many voices so who do you believe. I remember when Judwaa or Badrinath released, there was a DJ who reviewed the film and I was like a DJ is going to give his critics on a film but then I thought okay fair enough I will review his set later. But besides that, I think I am very open to criticism. Usually I take my criticism from my friends, family, I take it from Karan Johar who is also like my family and probably people close to me. But you know when you act with lot of people, they are very few people who would want to criticize the co-actor but I’ve got a few like Arjun criticizes me when he gets a chance very often, Alia also once in a while gives me her criticism and when I am working with her, then definitely I get it a lot and now that I have started working with Anushka in Sui Dhaga, that has been an amazing relationship that we have developed, we are very open with each other about scenes and all, Mostly she is the one telling me what to do because she is an amazing actor,  I hold her in really high regard as an actor and she is really helpful.

Rajeev Masand: So this is your new house that your mom has designed and she said that it took her about a year to do this. And you’ve just moved in a few months ago?

Varun Dhawan: I moved in a few months ago but I’ve stayed here for 15 days maximum because since I have just been travelling and not been in city. I was not been able to really enjoy it but now I am like enjoying it since I am here. You’ve to see a very cool thing my mom has put up and I don’t know why, she put up two baby pictures of mine and this like during the release of Judwaa so they actually believe I think that there is another one out there.

Rajeev Masand: This is really lovely as well.

Varun: This is a painting by Shiri Mehera, It is very realistic but if you go close to it you can actually see that it is a painting. You know anyone you gives you any gift with my own face on it, I find it a little weird.

Rajeev Masand: because it is a bit of narcissistic?

Varun:  I am narcissist, I am not going to deny it, and most actors are. I am pretty much narcissistic.

Rajeev Masand: Your mom told me a secret about you that when Karan Johar decided to launch you, you were very happy but one of the things you told was I wish Vishal Bhardwaj would have launched me.

Varun Dhawan: No actually my mind it still does work like that, I loved Vishal ji’s films and I never thought Karan is going to launch me, why would I think that he has never launched anyone. I mean that relationship just happened and it developed and obviously it is what it is today with Karan. Karan knows that part of the reason that I am controlled is because of him, he has really controlled me in the right places and then let me loose at the right places. There are so many scripts that I have taken which were weird and bad and I was like just for the sake of being different I took them and he was like Varun just calm the hell down but you know having said that, when I picked October and I was working with Shoojit, he was very intrigued what they are making and he is one of the proudest people that I have done this film, He supported this film and he keeps saying that I am the emotional producer of this film.

Rajeev Masand: Lali, he turns 31 this week. What is your big wish for him this year? I mean look at how beautifully the year has started.

Lali Dhawan, Varun Dhawan’s mother: I don’t think it goes year by year because he is definitely maturing but a way too much I want him to be enjoying his life a little. I want him to experience life too as he is only been working. He is not been able to call his friends, he wants to do it but he just not had the time and I want him to experience what he has made in all these years and feel that joy sometime.

Rajeev Masand Do you think he works too hard?

Lali Dhawan: Oh yes, he is a total workaholic so I think he should give some time to his personal being that is tapped Varun Dhawan inside.

Rajeev Masand: So there is a work in progress gym?

Varun Dhawan: Yes, it is not fully made because I am obsessed with boxing now instead of just doing normal cardio. Rohit will be coming here to do weights and all so I and Rohit are having this debate about where do we keep down the boxing bag and where do we keep the weights.

So this is a kind of a make shift gym which I am very proud of but it is not fully done as yet. It has got the essentials. Right now I am just enjoying boxing than doing any weights for that matter. I think you should try it as well Rajeev.

So, this going to come in shape and I truly believe in this line, I mean the only limit is you that is truly something that I kind of believe in so this is the sacred place.

Rajeev Masand: The one thing about the home is that it is very empty, there is just you living alone. You’ve not at all made any efforts to hide the fact that you’re in a relationship, you’ve been photographed with Natasha and you take holidays together. We are in 2018, why is it so hard to talk about your relationship?

Varun Dhawan: I feel like it takes away my personal life and that is the only reason I don’t talk about it. Because then you are in or not in they are going write something here and write something here and something there.

Rajeev Masand: Is she uncomfortable with the attention?

Varun Dhawan: Yeah, she is a normal girl. She is a normal kid and she wants to just live a normal life and its my job to protect her.

Rajeev Masand: Is it hard to conduct a normal relationship when you are an actor?

Varun Dhawan: I think it is too hard to have a relationship in general in 2018 but I think that you want t be in it and are in the right phase of life then you can do it and I think me or anyone who is involved then you’re happy so you’re happy. So, the main thing in life is that you’re happy and you don’t have to prove anything to anybody. That’s why I don’t talk about it.

Rajeev Masand: Your brother Rohit and his wife are going to have a baby in few months. Do you think about marriage, do you think about starting a family when you see that?

Varun Dhawan: I do obviously. I am not someone who just wants to be not married. I believe in the institution and I don’t think there should be an age and date for this but there should be a feeling that it is the right time and when you feel it then get married.

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