The First Ever Interview with Varun Dhawan being reproduced to celebrate his 33rd birthday

BIRTHDAY INTERVIEW

“I can go to any producer’s office, get a cup of coffee but I will not bag a film, just because I am David Dhawan's son”

VARUN DHAWAN tells JYOTHI VENKATESH

Varun Dhawan, the second son of David Dhawan, who made his debut with Karan Johar’s STUDENT OF THE YEAR lays bare his heart to JYOTHI VENKATESH eight years ago at the office of Dharma Productions had vowed that like his father, he also wants to be a self made man in Bollywood and states that at 25, though he is confident that he will sail through as an actor, he is also quite practical to the core.”I had always liked to have the spotlight on myself, wherever I used to go,” he had quipped. Today on his 33^rd birthday, we reproduce Varun’s first ever interview taken before the release of Student of The Year .

Did you take up acting because you happen to be David Dhawan’s son?

I confess that it was always acting that I had craved for, having been brought up in a film family. However, till I trained in acting for two years from Barry John, when he shifted from New Delhi and set up his acting school in Mumbai,  I did not know how difficult it would be as an actor, because it was only then that I realized that an actor’s life isn’t just about glamour.

In what way did you benefit by learning acting from Barry John?

I went through the grind by being part of several plays that Barry Sir had conducted as part of his acting curriculum. Barry Sir knew that I wanted to act in films eventually and hence he encouraged me a lot to be well versed in not only acting but also dancing and body building by going to the gym. I learnt street jazz from Shiamak Davar and dancing from Sanjay Yadav. It was sweet on the part of Prashant to offer me to teach me gym training, without taking even a paisa from me. 

Why didn’t you prefer to be launched by your father David Dhawan? 

Let me be honest enough to confess that I did not want to begin my work with my father, because I would not have been able to in that case to learn from him. My dad has to his credit as many as 40 films but unlike Karan Johar or Yashji who launch new faces, he hasn’t launched even one single new face. I am glad I am making my debut with Karan Johar’s film. Dad and Karan do not even know each other socially because both their schools of films are different. Dad was happy when I told him that I had joined Karan’s unit as an A.D.

What did your father tell you when you told him that you wanted to get into films?

I am proud of my father and happy that he had stoically told me to make it on my own steam and not to expect him to launch a film for me, just because I am his son,  especially since even my brother Rohit had bagged his debut film as a director on his own steam. My mum was scared because she knew that it is very difficult to make my way through when my dad did not want to launch me as an actor. My dad had brought me and Rohit up by slogging behind the camera as well as the editing table as an editor.

Does it mean that you did not want to piggyback on your dad’s name in films?

You can say that. I am practical and of the opinion that Cinema is no one’s birthright. I wanted to come up my own way without piggybacking on my father’s brand name. People felt that David Dhawan ka betatho comedy karegabut I wanted to be an actor, not just somebody’s son. I’d like to do something edgy, because I get a kick by doing what people do not at all expect from me. I am proud of being the son of David Dhawan, who is a self made man. As his son, I can go to any producer’s office, get a cup of coffee but I will not be able to bag a film, just because I am his son.

How did you bag the offer to act in Student of The Year from Karan Johar?

After doing my Business Administration at Nottingham, I came to India, became an A.D and then started learning from Barry John Sir and even ended up directing three short films. I showed to Karan the short film Adrenchrome, in which I had acted. He liked it and asked me to audition for Student of The Year, which he was planning to direct himself. To prepare me and Sidharth Malhotra, Karan even sent us to Pineapple School of Dancing in London.

How would you describe your role in Student of The Year?

I play the role of Rohan Nanda in Student of The Year. Rohan is rebellious. Ram Kapoor and his real life wife Gautami play my parents in the film. Rohan does exactly the opposite of what his father wants him to do, because he wants to start his own metallic band. What I like the best about my character is that Rohan is a little grey but very simple at heart and also good natured. The film is more about friendship and not at all a love triangle.

What message does Student of The Year set out to drive home?

I am very competitive by nature. SOTY sets out to drive home the message that competition brings out the worst in friendship and it can either make people or even break them and it is up to you to decide whether competition is good or bad.

What do you hate as far as acting is concerned?

I hate make up because though I am an actor, I find the entire process very boring. I feel that it is very taxing to portray and project emotions on the screen. I also feel that the working hours for an actor are crazy but then at the end of the day, I feel that acting is worth it.

Do you wish to take up direction, like your father and brother?

Like my father and brother, I do not nurse any desire to turn a director of a feature film. Instead I would like to direct short films and documentaries, because I feel that there is a lot of freedom in the guerrilla kind of shooting. Right now I am happy being directed by others but when I feel that I reach that level, where I would like to mould other actors, as a director, I’d definitely plunge into the pool.