Varun Dhawan will be seen next in a the buddy-cop thriller Dishoom co-starring John Abraham. Varun talks about being directed by his brother, his forthcoming films and his willingness to do Dostana 2 with John.
You have delivered six successful films in the last four years. Do you expect Dishoom to continue the trend?
This is my only release in 2016 so I want it to be a good year. Plus, the fact that the earlier films have worked, adds pressure that this film should work as well. I believe we have made a good film with good intentions. It ticks all my boxes.
This is the first time you have done major action sequences involving helicopter et al. Did you find that daunting or exciting?
It was pretty crazy, yaar. Nothing can prepare you for a stunt like that because not too many people have done something like that. Our life was in the hands of the one who was flying the helicopter.
I believe you got injured while shooting for the film.
I got hurt while doing the action scenes but that’s part and parcel of filmmaking -- it can happen while doing a song or any other scene too. We were shooting in the sun for a scene in which I had to jump over a moving car -- I was a little dehydrated anyway and because John wasn’t there they made me do around 16 takes! I kept doing it but in one take, my finger got stuck in the bonnet of the car and twisted fully ... I passed out for few seconds.
Is it easy to be directed by your elder brother Rohit Dhawan?
Rohit is still a little bit more emotional about brother-protectiveness ... but where I am concerned, when I am on the film set, I am making a film. So when Rohit and I were on set, it was clear that I was my character, Junaid Ansari, not Varun, not his brother. Rohit kept the atmosphere serious so that I could concentrate on my art.
“My finger got stuck in the bonnet of the car and twisted fully ... I passed out for few seconds.”
How was it to work with John Abraham?
We are very cool and chilled out. John is a very easy guy. He is way senior to me, much older to me, but he never let me feel like that. I felt very comfortable with him. We were on back-slapping terms, I could’ve pushed him, hit him ... I had that equation with him so acting became very easy with him. If they were still casting for Dostana 2, I think John and I would be a good pair as well.
What is your view about Akshaye Khanna?
He is outstanding in the film! He brings a lot to Dishoom.
It was a pleasure to have him in the film.