He has a string of hits to his credit today and is on the brink of stardom. His next—Judwaa 2—is a remake of his dad David Dhawan’s film of the same name starring superstar Salman Khan made 20 years ago.
While the original Judwaa saw Salman in a double role opposite Karisma Kapoor and Rambha. Judwaa 2 will see this budding star—Varun Dhawan—in a double role for the first time opposite Jacqueline Fernandez and Tapsee Pannu.
Tapsee reveals, “Varun was very stressed during the shoot. He kept asking us whether this is okay, if I need to do anything more, etc. We used to tell him to enjoy the process and everything will fall automatically in place. What I like about him is his honesty towards his work.”
Varun smiles, “It’s my dad’s film so I was a little stressed. I want the audience to watch the film and laugh. Paresh Rawal told me recently, ‘Why are you youngsters so scared and stressed? Go out there and perform to your best’.”
He adds: “Both Tapsee and Jacqueline are good in the film and will be appreciated. Jacqueline has done a lot of hits with big stars. She is experienced. Tapsee too has done South films and is known for her roles in Baby and Pink.”
Varun is aware that comparisons will be made with Salman Khan. But the actor says it’s unfair. “The Khans have been stars for the last 25 years. They have always connected with their fans through every medium—radio, cinema or social media. I believe that fans give you stardom. When my first film released, Salman asked me: ‘This has done well but what about the future?’”
Tapsee believes she is yet to taste stardom. “People have appreciated my work. I don’t think I have changed much after the success of Pink. My level of thinking is the same,” she says. Tapsee adds that Judwaa has always been her favourite film. “I remember all the lyrics and the dance steps of all the seven songs from the earlier film. When I was shooting for Chashme Baddoor with director David Dhawan, I made him shoot a video of the song ‘Oonchi hai building’ with me,” she confesses.
Varun, in fact, doesn’t remember much about the film. “I used to go on the sets with dad and was just ten years old. I watched the film much later.” He says it was tough playing double roles. “They are shown as identical twins and I had to change my walk and modulate my voice for both the characters.”
Tapsee adds, “We have not changed the iconic scenes; the soul of the film is the same. For the first time, I have a very glamorous role.”
When asked what advice Salman gave him, Varun says, “Salman said, ‘don’t spoil the song ‘Tan tanatan tan tan tara’ and don’t change the steps’. He was kind enough to send a bag full of jeans for my character Raja, which he had worn in Judwaa.”
This is Tapsee’s second comedy venture. “People feel that my image has become serious after films such as Pink, Baby and Naam Shabana. I love comedy as a genre. The only challenge was to look hot,” she confesses.
Varun says he remembers people talking to him about his father’s success and box office collections. “Some even said that when they were not feeling well they would see papa’s film and would feel better. I, too, want to make the audiences happy. My dad is very strict on the sets and doesn’t spare me because I am his son. He knows how to draw performances from actors.”
Currently, Varun is choosing his films with care. “I want to target the audience below the age of 20. I believe that if children come to the theatres they will drag their parents.” We ask Tapsee about her differences with co-star Jacqueline. “I don’t react to harsh negative stories. I don’t want to comment on it,” she signs off.