Varun Dhawan on 10 years in Bollywood: ‘There was a time I’d think arrogantly’

Actor Varun Dhawan says his decade-long journey in Bollywood has been a roller-coaster ride, where he has transitioned from being briefly arrogant in his career to lening and learning from what his audience wants out of him.
Varun made his debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year in 2012 and went on to deliver consecutive blockbusters like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badlapur, ABCD2, Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya and Judwaa 2. The actor, however, also suffered box office setbacks with films like Kalank and October.

During the trailer launch of his upcoming Bhediya, Varun said in these ten years, his attempt was to always keep the audience as his priority. “I’ve always kept an ear out to hear what the audience is trying to tell me. It isn’t that I’ve done superb work in every film. If people criticise, it’s for this.
“I’m always trying to hear, grow. There was a time when I’d think arrogantly, that everything is going fine, so why should I even care what someone is saying,” he said.
Billed as a creature comedy, Bhediya is directed Amar Kaushik and produced Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. Varun said though there is “always room for doing something better”, as an actor he is aware that he should not “run myself down also.”
The actor said right now, he is in a phase where he wants to enjoy the success Bhediya will bring and the success that his last release, Jugjugg Jeeyo, brought. He is also conscious that he’s getting more responsible in terms of starring in VFX heavy projects, as he doesn’t want to give the audience any “cringe worthy” visuals.

“Because I heard the audience, I did a film like Bhediya, worked with a filmmaker like Amar, a producer like Dinesh. I feel as Indian cinema, we are ready for this. We won’t settle for less. I’ve done films where the VFX has been cringe worthy.

“When I was promoting the film, I would’ve obviously said it’s good, what else can one do. When I look back, I can see there have been cringe worthy moments in the VFX. But I didn’t do the VFX! I (as an actor) can try and work with directors and producers who can bring about that change. So now I think I’m more responsible.”
Bhediya, written Niren Bhatt, features Varun as a werewolf, while Kriti plays a doctor. The film also features Abhishek Banerjee and Deepak Dobriyal.
Presented Jio Studios and Dinesh Vijan, Bhediya will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in 2D and 3D on November 25.