Varun Dhawan
Varun Dhawan is a popular Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. Varun, the son of director David Dhawan, debuted as an actor in Student of the Year, a teen drama directed by Karan Johar that was a huge commercial success in 2012. With a variety of romantic comedies, action movies, and gripping dramas, he has made a name for himself as one of Bollywood's top actors over the years.
| |
| Dhawan in 2025 | |
| Born | 24 April 1987 (age 38) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | H.R. College of Commerce and Economics |
| Alma mater | Nottingham Trent University (BBA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Bollywood films |
| Notable works | Student of the Year (2012), Badlapur (2015), Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), October (2018), Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022), Bhediya (2022) |
| Awards | Full List of Awards |
| Spouse(s) | Natasha Dalal (m. 2021) |
| Parents | David Dhawan (father),
Karuna Dhawan (mother) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Website | See below |
With roles in popular films such as Badlapur (2015), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), ABCD 2 (2015), Judwaa 2 (2017), October (2018), and Bhediya (2022), Varun is well-known for his dynamic on-screen persona and versatility. He has won 38 awards, been nominated for many more, including the IIFA and Filmfare Awards, and was named "Best Actor of the Decade" by the Indian Television Academy.
In his private life, Varun wed fashion designer Natasha Dalal in 2021, and the two of them had a daughter, Lara, in 2024. With upcoming roles in Border 2 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025), Varun remains one of Bollywood's most bankable stars.
Early Life & Education
Varun Dhawan was born on 24 April 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to film director David Dhawan and Karuna Dhawan. His family is Hindu and from Punjab. After attending Bombay Scottish School, he earned his degree from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. After that, he graduated from Nottingham Trent University in the UK with a degree in business studies. Prior to turning to acting, he served as Karan Johar's assistant director on the 2010 movie "My Name Is Khan."
Career
In 2012, Dhawan made his acting debut in the movie "Student of the Year," directed by Karan Johar. In addition to being a financial success, the movie helped him gain popularity among young viewers. He later starred in romantic comedies such as "Main Tera Hero" (2014), "Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania" (2014), and "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" (2017).
He received critical acclaim for his dramatic roles in "Badlapur" (2015) and "October" (2018), which demonstrated his versatility. "ABCD 2" (2015), "Judwaa 2" (2017), and "Dilwale" (2015) are a few of his most successful commercial releases.
He starred in popular movies like "Jugjugg Jeeyo" and "Bhediya" in 2022. "Bawaal" (2023), "Citadel: Honey Bunny" (2024), and "Baby John" (2024) are some of his subsequent endeavors. His next films are "Border 2" and "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" (2025).
Notable Works
- Student of the Year (2012)
- Badlapur (2015)
- ABCD 2 (2015)
- Judwaa 2 (2017)
- Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017)
- October (2018)
- Sui Dhaaga (2018)
- Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022)
- Bhediya (2022)
- Bawaal (2023)
- Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025)
Achievements
Throughout his career, Varun Dhawan has been nominated for multiple awards and won over 38. For his roles in Badlapur (2015) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), he was nominated for a Filmfare Award. He was also nominated for a Filmfare Critics Award for October (2018) and Bhediya (2022). In addition to receiving the Zee Cine Award for Performer of the Year (Male) for October 2018, he was the recipient of the IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Main Tera Hero (2014) and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014). The Indian Television Academy honored him as "Best Actor of the Decade" in honor of his ten-year contribution to Hindi cinema.
Awards
| Year | Film | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Student of the Year | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor (Film) Debut - Male | Nominated |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Filmfare Awards | Best Male Debut | Nominated |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Screen Awards | Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Nominated |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Zee Cine Awards | Best Male Debut | Nominated |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Star Guild Awards | Best Male Debut | Nominated |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Stardust Awards | Breakthrough Performance – Male | Won |
| 2013 | Student of the Year | Stardust Awards | Superstar of Tomorrow – Male | Nominated |
| 2015 | Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania | Best Actor – Comedy/Romance | Won | |
| 2015 | Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania & Main Tera Hero | Superstar of Tomorrow – Male | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Screen Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Star Guild Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | |
| 2015 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor in a Romantic Film – Male | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Main Tera Hero | Most Entertaining Actor in a Comedy Film – Male | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Star Guild Awards | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Won | |
| 2015 | Screen Awards | Best Actor (Popular Choice) | Nominated | |
| 2015 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Performance in a Comic Role | Won | |
| 2016 | Badlapur | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2016 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor in a Thriller Film – Male | Won | |
| 2016 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor in an Action Film – Male | Won | |
| 2016 | Times of India Film Awards | Best Actor (Popular) | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Times of India Film Awards | Best Actor (Critics) | Nominated | |
| 2016 | ABCD 2 | Star Guild Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated |
| 2016 | Dilwale & Dishoom | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India | Best Entertainer of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania | Best Jodi with Alia Bhatt | Won | |
| 2017 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Favorite Dancing Star | Won | |
| 2017 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Best Entertainer (Film) | Won | |
| 2017 | Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor Male | Won | |
| 2017 | Dishoom | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Nominated | |
| 2017 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Comedian | Won | |
| 2017 | Star Screen Awards | Best Comedian | Won | |
| 2018 | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | Best Actor – Male (Popular) | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor (Jury's Choice) – Male | Won | |
| 2018 | Judwaa 2 | Best Actor (Viewer's Choice) – Male | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Star Screen Awards | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Nominated | |
| 2018 | October | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India | Favourite Movie Actor | Won |
| 2018 | Indian Film Festival of Melbourne | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Jagran Film Festival | Best Actor - Male | Won | |
| 2019 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor (Critics) | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Sui Dhaaga | Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor (Viewer's Choice) - Male | Nominated |
| 2019 | Kalank | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India | Favourite Actor (Male) | Nominated |
| 2023 | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Zee Cine Awards | Performer of the Year (Male) | Won |
| 2023 | Bhediya | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor (Critics) | Nominated |
| 2023 | Bawaal | Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Actor (Web Original Film) | Nominated |
| 2024 | Pinkvilla Screen and Style Icons Awards | Best Actor (OTT) – Popular Choice | Won |
Personal Life
Varun Dhawan married his childhood friend and fashion designer Natasha Dalal in January 2021. The couple welcomed their daughter Lara in June 2024. Dhawan follows Hindu traditions and is connected with ISKCON.