David Dhawan is grinning from ear to ear. His younger son Varun has made him proud. This evening, he spoke to SpotboyE.com on Varun's childhood, habits, nature and lots more...
Excerpts:
Let's start from the day he was born, April 24, 1987...
Gosh! Wahan se?
Yes...
Ok. So yeah, Varun was born in Bombay (now called Mumbai). We stay in Juhu now, but we were in Bandra at 16th Road then- very near to Rajendra Kumar's preview theatre Dimple. In '87 itself, I directed my first film Taaqatvar. And then, we shifted to a bigger house in Bandra at Carter Road.
He proved lucky for you...
(Laughs) Yes, Varun has been lucky for me.
Who named him Varun?
I used to go for long walks in Bandra and liked a new building called Varun. I liked the name and told my mother about it.
Did Varun like his name?
Did he have a choice (laughs)?
Was he into sports?
He is an amazing runner. He won several medals in athletics in school and college. He likes swimming too.
Does he go for a swim now?
Oh yes, whenever he is free, he just dives in. He is fond of cricket too.
Does he get time to see cricket now?
When he returns from his shoot, I brief him on the matches that have been played during the day. My elder son Rohit too loves cricket. Soon, we three get into a long discussion.
Who are Varun's favourite cricketers?
Sachin Tendulkar, whom he shares his birthday with. Virat is a fabulous cricketer and I hope he does well in future. Dhoni is always wonderful.
Did you get complaints from his teachers in school/college?
Yes. They loved him, but he was a very naughty child (pauses).
He had his set of friends in school who are still in regular touch with him. They were here at our place even last night to bring in Varun's birthday.
Did he not have a party with his B-town colleagues?
No.
From what we know about him, he is a very soft spoken guy...
That is indeed the case.
Where does this stem from?
His mother (Laali) has brought him up very well. The same applies to Rohit. She was very careful about their studies too. Even today if he has to get up early, he tells his mother to wake him up. Both of them rely on her a lot.
Did you warn him that acting is a risky profession full of ups and downs?
He didn't even tell me that he wanted to become an actor. Can you beat that?! He did his Business Management at Nottingham and joined Karan Johar to assist him in My Name Is Khan. Suddenly one day, Karan came to my house and said that he wants Varun in a film (Student of the Year); Varun had even done photo-sessions for his role by then!
There's a school of thought that Varun models himself on Govinda and Salman...
No. It's just that he loves music and dance. He has no inhibitions, which helps him to easily surrender to the requirement of the scene.
Has his soft-spoken nature worked in his favour?
No. How can that be a criterion?
Then, what has worked in his favour?
He is very dedicated to acting. Dedication is the need of the hour. Cut-throat competition hai. The industry is accepting newcomers by the day.
Do you see him practising in front of the mirror?
I haven't seen him rehearsing before the mirror, but I know he does prepare a lot in his room. I remember he used to come so well prepared on the sets when I directed him in Main Tera Hero.
Do you advise improvisations- Beta, aisa karo, waisa karo...?
Yes, and he listens very patiently. But we have our fair share of debates. I remember asking him if he was sure he wanted to do Badlapur. And he was so sure; my word, how well it worked for him.
He is 28 now, but as a father are you still worried if and when he comes home late in the night?
He is 28 now, but as a father are you still worried if and when he comes home late in the night?
No, he always keep me in the loop about his whereabouts. Mobile hai na.
Do you question him when you read some linkup of his?
No, I have been in the film industry for 37 years. I know how it works. Rumours are a part and parcel of our business.
You had a rollicking run with your films, but then there was a phase when you experienced a lull...
Yes I did, but I never let the disappointment get the better of me. I kept working. And then came Chashme Buddoor and Main Tera Hero, both did very well at the ticket windows. I think it's now payback time for Dhawans.
Will the film star Varun?
Obviously, but I am still working on the script.
(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM)
(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM)