I wouldn’t call myself a star: Varun

Main Tera Hero star talks about working with his father, and how fame has changed him.

MUMBAI: Actor Varun Dhawan, whose fan following seems to have increased following his latest release Main Tera Hero, wants to avoid calling himself a “star”. He says that establishing a connection with the audience will always be of importance to him.

Main Tera Hero (MTH) has been a success, how do you feel about that?

Very honestly, the hero in this film is my father David Dhawan. We promoted the film like crazy. Nowadays, the pressure on how to market a film is excruciating. There wasn’t as much pressure to promote my first film Student Of The Year. Dharma Productions was the hero of that film, and Karan Johar was with us.

It must have been difficult, being on the road constantly?

There were times when I had to force my eyelids apart. But when I saw those expectant crowds at the promotional events just waiting for a glimpse of the actors, one couldn’t go in front of them all droopy and tired.

What do you think is the hallmark of a true star?

I wouldn’t call myself a star. Not now, not ever. I’m here because I love movies. I am not here to make money. By God’s grace I don’t have to worry about my next 4,000 meals. At the same time, I am not here to do charity either. But my relationship with the audience will always be more important than all other considerations. I’ve to make sure of that.

You seem to have established the same kind of connection with the audience as Govinda did in your father’s films. Does that comparison annoy you?

Not at all. If anything, it is unfair to an actor of Govinda’s stature and durability. At the same time, I do realise that all newcomers are compared with established actors. And because MTH is a full-on David Dhawan film, the kind that my father did with Govinda, the comparisons are inevitable.

You come from a totally filmy background. Is that an advantage?

I am not too sure. Today the tone of cinema has changed beyond recognition. Things are gradually changing. We don’t know whether the future of Indian cinema is going to be Dabangg, Rowdy Rathore and MTH or is it going to be Queen and The Lunchbox.

How has Main Tera Hero changed you as an actor?

I am exhausted but satisfied. I feel sapped out. I can’t do films like MTH for the next two years. I did this film from the heart. We had a lot of improvisation on the sets. We were constantly adding, revising, polishing. To me, this is what commercial Hindi cinema is all about. After its release, when I went to the theatre, this elderly gentleman came and put his hand on my head and blessed me. Then his children came and told me they liked the film. For me, that was the reward for all the hard work.  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2014.

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