With October, Varun Dhawan has proved he is one of the most dependable stars Bollywood has at present.

Varun’s latest with Shoojit Sircar has made around Rs 21 crore at the box office so far, not bad for a film with a very low production cost. Which means, all the films Varun has starred in so far have been commercial successes.

With October, Varun’s 10th release, the Judwaa 2 actor has not only proved that he can exclusively pull off a masala film like Main Tera Hero but also ones like this and Badlapur.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh analysed what makes Varun tick. “He is the poster boy of masala films but for him to do a film like October is commendable. Every actor wants to try out different roles. He is a star but at the same time to be acknowledged as an actor is equally important. Varun has won accolades for Badlapur, which was a middle of the road 
cinema, but October is in a very realistic zone.’’

“Varun has evolved as an actor and has the capability and confidence to pick up and choose such films that is a positive sign for an actor who has a cent per cent track record,” said Adarsh.

Varun is at present shooting for Yash Raj Film’s Sui Dhaga with Anushka Sharma which will be followed by Remo D’Souza’s ABC3D co-starring Katrina Kaif; Shashank Khaitan’s Ranbhoomi and Abhishek Varman’s Shiddat.

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says Varun at the core is pan-India material but it is also important for him to cater to the urban multiplex gold class category. “It is nice to see that after every four-five movies, Varun does a film like October without downgrading his stardom. He is also adding to the sheen as an actor which is a smart strategy.”

Shailesh Kapoor of Ormax Media says Varun has built a strong mass following in a very short time.

He adds: “Initially, his fan following was driven by the big-city youths. But with the success of ABCD2 and Judwaa 2, Varun has gained popularity in smaller markets such as UP, MP and Bihar too. This makes him a young star for the masses.”

Varun has won six coveted awards and he also featured in the Forbes top 100 celebrities list last year. Varun, it is rumoured, was paid Rs 11 crore for his last hit Judwaa 2, quite a fat amount for a star born just six years ago with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year.

Varun is at now rumoured to be quoting Rs 20 crore per film because of his massive hits. According to a Duff and Phelps report, Varun ranks 10th in the top 15 celebrity list of 2017 and his brand is valued at $32mn. Varun charges Rs 3 crore per day and gives five days a year for each of his brands.

Marketing consultant Deepesh Shah said Varun could well be the next badshah of the box office. “Seven years, 10 movies. Across genres (romance, action, comedy, thriller, and drama) with different film makers to deliver on screen and at the box office,” he said.

Apoorva Mehta, CEO of KJo’s Dharma Productions, said: “Varun is the only actor from the new generation who has maintained a fine balance between commercial and niche films.”

LOVER BOY 

Working on October has changed Varun Dhawan’s perception of love.

“The meaning of love has diluted for me,” he said. “In this generation of technology, love is not what it used to be. It has changed a lot. You send a kiss emoticon when you want to say something…”

Varun said he, too, has experienced heartbreaks but moved on in life. “You start taking relationships for granted. In my case, I am not in one place but travelling all the time. You lose track of what is happening in life. I am busy making money but we are not going to take this love and money and fame with us when we die. What matters in life is how much time we give our loved ones.”

Shama Bhagat