Is Varun Dhawan slowly bridging the gap between 'mass' and 'class' with his film choices?

A long time ago, when Ranbir Kapoor was still attending every filmi event and doing movies like Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, and when Ranveer Singh had just becomes social media’s heartthrob courtesy his link up with Deepika Padukone, a couple of friends and I indulged in a bit of fun comparisons between the Khans and the “new boys”, so to speak. “Ranveer Singh is this generation’s Shah Rukh Khan,” I quipped with confidence. I was pretty sure of what I was saying. He could turn on the charm and be the quintessential chocolate boy, but also crank up the intensity (read: Lootera and more recently Bajirao Mastani). Moreover, he is YRF’s favourite, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali was going gaga over him. (Couldn’t help but think of SRK’s Devdas days) “That would make Ranbir this generation’s Aamir Khan,” said my friend. It only made sense. He had the more “intellectual” vibe, with films like Tamasha, Rockstar and Bombay Velvet. A third friend was silently listening to us talk about both these actor’s choice of films, how one has strong mentors and the other has a family name. After we’d had our share of comparisons, he whipped out his one liner. “You’re forgetting about Varun Dhawan, who I think is this generation’s Salman Khan.” [caption id=“attachment_2923276” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Varun Dhawan, with Alia Bhatt, in his debut film ‘Student of the Year’. Youtube screen grab.[/caption] This statement stumped us both. Varun Dhawan, and Salman Khan, really? “He’s quietly doing all kinds of films, and gaining momentum as the world debates about who the bigger star is Ranveer or Ranbir,” he said, adding, “also he looks like really doesn’t give a f*ck about anything or anyone.” (This is back when Dhawan had just struck gold with ABCD 2 and had also done films like Badlapur and Main Tera Hero).  [caption id=“attachment_2923282” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Varun Dhawan in Badlapur. Image from Facebook.[/caption] Now, while I don’t think Varun Dhawan is anything like Salman Khan, this conversation reminded of a time when everybody was divided among who the better actor is, Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan. Meanwhile Salman Khan hit gold with Wanted and then Dabangg, and there was no looking back_._ Cut to 2016, and Ranbir is nowhere in sight, Ranveer is the next big thing (love you 4evs Ranveer), and then there’s Varun Dhawan. He’s still doing all kinds of films, and his stardom is only rising. Meanwhile, he’s giving nobody a reason to complain. The kids love him for his affability, middle-aged aunties love him for his undeniable charm, critics love him because even in the crappiest films he’s earnest. Basically everybody loves Varun Dhawan. [caption id=“attachment_2923284” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Varun Dhawan cries while watching DDLJ in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya. Youtube screen grab.[/caption] If you skim across reviews of Dishoom there is one common thing all critics are saying; that Varun Dhawan manages to please even in an average film, with fellow average actors. This is certainly good news, but it gets better. In a run up to the film, there was a heavy debate on social media about an image that Varun posted on instagram that, on first look, is one of him working out. However, it sparked off a debate on his “bulge”. Many media publications picked up on it, and Twitter went beserk on whether they were objectifying Dhawan. When you have a Twitter controversy around you, you’ve truly arrived. Ask Tanmay Bhat, he’ll corroborate.

I had heard that size matters. Didn't know that my size would matter to so many 😉👊

— Varun sunny sanskari Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) July 20, 2016

Meanwhile, Dhawan also gave his voice to the Hindi version of Captain America, he’s the only actor to have admitted that he loves doing promotions, no matter how taxing it his, which makes him a producer’s delight, and he’s a pro dancer. Next in his filmography are films like Judwaa 2, Badrinath ki Dulhaniya, and possibly Karan Johar’s pet project Shuddhi. [caption id=“attachment_2923288” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  The official poster for ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya’. Image from Facebook.[/caption] Varun Dhawan may just be changing the fundamental rules of being a mainstream actor, and the reason one can make such a tall claim is because he is carving his own identity. While he can be the only good thing about a buddy cop film (sorry John), and do an intensely grey role like Badlapur, he is also doing frothy, commercial films like sequels to the 90s hit Judwa and Gen Y’s DDLJ, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya. Also it really helps that he knows how to laugh at himself, and say the right things, and do the sauciest things.

#dishoom takes over tv tonight. #DancePlus2 #ProKabaddi #Dishoomontkss #vdontv pic.twitter.com/JlvcVCFKIo

— Varun sunny sanskari Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) July 23, 2016

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#2daysfordishoom. Breakfast time @TheJohnAbraham pic.twitter.com/x89lyJwEF7

— Varun sunny sanskari Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) July 27, 2016

Tomorrow is the day we have worked for. I do films for the audience. I bid farewell to Junaid ansari tonight. From now he's yours.

— Varun sunny sanskari Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) July 28, 2016

Watch out for the meteoric rise of Varun Dhawan. I would use adjectives like “soaring star” “latest fad” “Twitter sweetheart” or “Bollywood’s favourite”, but I don’t think you can contain him within labels.