Despite being the son of renowned filmmaker David Dhawan, Varun Dhawan carved his own path in Bollywood. He didn’t get a launchpad from his superstar father but entered the film industry after auditioning for his debut role in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year (2012), which turned out to be a semi-hit. Since then, Varun has built a solid fan base and proven his mettle with consistent performances.

David Dhawan Refused to Launch Varun

In a candid interview, Varun revealed that his parents made it clear from the beginning that he would not be launched under his father’s banner. “Believe me, my father and mother had clearly said they will never launch me. They told me I had to do everything on my own. Initially, it was all about facing nepotism accusations, but I truly had to struggle. After Student of the Year, I had no work. Directors like Raju Hirani or Sanjay Leela Bhansali weren’t lining up with offers—I had to earn everything the hard way.”

A Career Built on Consistency and Hits

After his debut, Varun starred in Main Tera Hero, another semi-hit. He then delivered back-to-back hits with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badlapur, and ABCD 2. Films like Dilwale, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Judwaa 2, October, and Sui Dhaaga kept his success streak going, with most being either semi-hits or average performers.

Remarkably, until 2018, Varun had not delivered a single flop at the box office. His first underperforming film came in 2019 with Kalank, followed by Street Dancer 3D, and more recently, Baby John in 2024. Even films like Jug Jug Jeeyo and Bhediya managed to earn average status.

Just 3 Flops in 12 Years

In a career spanning over a decade, Varun Dhawan’s track record remains impressive with only three flop films. His journey proves that even with a famous last name, real success demands perseverance, hard work, and talent.