Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon talk about Dilwale and more

We met these two new sensations at The Oberoi Hotel in Dubai this Friday to talk about Dilwale that releases in the UAE this weekend.

Varun Dhawan has starred in five films (Student of the Year, Main Tera Hero, ABCD 2, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya and Badlapur) and each of them has been a box office hit. He is a bankable star when it comes to the box office. He is already a sensation amongst teenagers. Those who have worked with him swear by his honest and dedicated approach to his craft. Whereas Kriti Sanon, just one film old in Bollywood, is already considered one of the talents to watch out for in a crowded industry. She made a big impression with her movie star looks, style and electric smile in Heropanti. We met these two new sensations at The Oberoi Hotel in Dubai this Friday to talk about Dilwale that releases in the UAE this weekend.
What was your first reaction, when you got a hint that you might land a role in a Rohit Shetty film?
Varun: When I actually came to know that I would be part of Dilwale, the movie was not actually Dilwale. There was no Shah Rukh Khan, no Kajol, and no Kriti. I was the first person to have been cast. I reacted purely because of Rohit Shetty and the script. I connected most to the 'brother angle' because I have an older brother as well, who I am very close to. I always wanted to do this older brother-younger brother film and that sentiment really got to me. Also, my love story is really whacky, very crazy, something that I have not done before. They always show that boy-meets-girl and they fall in love. But over here, the boy-meets-girl, boy falls in love with the girl and she thinks that he is crazy. How he convinces her and all the antics involved were something I was trying for the first time as an actor. And to pull off those stunts was very challenging for me.
Kriti: I was maybe the last person to come on board. I got a call from Rohit Shetty's office for a meeting and I did have a hint what that meeting was all about. When I went there, they gave me a brief narration of the script. I have always enjoyed Rohit Shetty films. I think they are very entertaining and family oriented. This one was much more than what usual Rohit Shetty film has, this one has much more than comedy and action, it has a lot of romance, drama, emotions and family bonding. So for me it was a complete package. Rohit is a brand when it comes to directors and he has his own world of cinema. I was very excited. It was just one meeting and I was on board.
Varun, you are one of the most stable and bankable actors from the current lot of actors. On what basis do you pick your movies?
Varun: I do make a conscious decision to not repeat myself and choose roles that are different or what other people from my generation aren't doing. Nobody is doing comedies. We are probably scared, as we want to do comedies that are a little bit more subtle in nature or a little bit more towards the Western side. That as a trend is not a very good thing. Eventually, we must try to connect with pan India, to people in villages, within cities, NRIs. That's why a film like Dilwale is very important for me because it helps me connect with the whole country.
Kriti, do you feel you are lucky or is it all hard work and talent?
Kriti: I feel blessed to be a part of such a huge project. When it comes to Shah Rukh and Kajol, even if you watch them perform live, even that is a learning experience. Being in the same frame and performing with them, you do get to learn a lot more. When we worked with Shah Rukh and Kajol, we have seen their process of working, how spontaneous they are, what all they think before and after the scene. There is a lot that Varun and I have learnt through the journey of this film.
Being new to the industry, what did you learn from cinematic legends Shah Rukh and Kajol?
Varun: Shah Rukh has done a movie with Rohit, so their tuning is much better and faster. Also, SRK and Kajol are very different as actors. I primarily had scenes with Shah Rukh. He comes from theatre, having studied with Barry John, who I have studied with as well. I could see him applying those techniques while filming. He is very focused and totally submerged when doing a scene. There is no type of fun happening on the sets when the scene is going, which I really liked because I am that kind of a person. When I am working, I am very serious. Even if it's a comedy scene, lot of serious thoughts go into those scenes. Kajol has a different approach; she just switches on and switches off. She will laugh and fool around before the scene and suddenly she switches on and gives the best performance.
Would you ever pick up the phone and approach a director on your own, if you know he/she is making an interesting film?
Varun: Definitely, I won't do any fawning but if I have a director who I like, it doesn't mean that I have to work with the director, I will call. There are so many interesting people like Bijoy Nambiar who is making Wazir, Kanu Behl who made Titli, I have called them and spoken to them at length about their films. I got to know Sriram Raghavan (director of Badlapur) by picking up the phone and just talking to him normally and Badlapur happened. I keep in touch with Anand Rai as well. I think it's a good thing if creative people pick up the phone and talk to each other. I had told Kriti that I liked her in Heropanti. I receive a lot of messages from various people who are not friends. I think creative people cannot have these hangups.
Kriti: I think for me, at this point and before this, I have been a little hesitant in calling big directors. I do not come from a big background, I feel like they might tell me, 'Who are you?' So I have been a little hesitant. Maybe few more films down the line, I would probably do that more.
Varun: I feel she is already becoming more confident, I can see the change from the time she started Dilwale and now. Do you feel there is a change?
Kriti: After Heropanti released, I absolutely knew no one. So when you go to these parties, you have no idea who is who. Now Dilwale has happened, I have met more people in different parties. That kind of familiarity makes you feel comfortable. Like, I was at Mr Bachchan's party recently.
Varun: You were lost over there.
Kriti: There were bits that I was enjoying.
Varun: You were lost. I am telling you, every half and hour, she would tell me that she is leaving.
Kriti: But I didn't, I left at 5am. Just because I was not with you, does not mean I was not enjoying! Sidharth Malhotra kind of related to what I was going through, he looked at me and said, 'Oh, it's your first year in the industry, everything will be okay.'
Did you guys improvise a lot or strictly follow the script while shooting?
Varun: Sometimes, I spoke a line or two in English and then I felt maybe I shouldn't have done this. Rohit was so cool with it, he was like, 'I want you to be like that'. I was like, 'Shouldn't it be more dramatic?' He said that he took me on board because he wants me to play my age and I should bring that on the table as an actor. It happened two-three times. He would tell us to not be loud and be subtle.
arti@khaleejtimes.com