Varun Dhawan is one of Bollywood’s most popular and bankable actors, who made a striking debut with the 2012 hit Student of the Year, directed by Karan Johar.
Born into a film-centric family, he is the son of acclaimed filmmaker David Dhawan and the younger brother of director Rohit Dhawan. Before acting, he gained industry experience by working as an assistant director in Karan Johar’s 2010 film My Name is Khan. Varun quickly carved a niche for himself in the Hindi film industry with back-to-back commercial successes like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and the dance blockbuster ABCD 2 (2015).
His impressive filmography also includes titles such as Main Tera Hero, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Dilwale, Dishoom, Judwaa 2, and Sui Dhaaga. In addition to his acting career, Varun has become a familiar face on stage, having hosted several major award shows including the Stardust Awards, the 59th Filmfare Awards, and the 20th Screen Awards. So, who is Varun Dhawan? From his early days in filmmaking to becoming a global heartthrob, here’s everything you need to know about the Bollywood superstar.
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Varun Dhawan Biography
Varun Dhawan was born on the 24th of April 1987, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is currently 38 years old.
| Birth Name | Varun Dhawan |
| Nickname | Pappu |
| Date of Birth | April 24, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Profession | Actor |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Natasha Dalal |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Family and Education
Varun Dhawan was born to Indian parents David Dhawan and Karuna Dhawan, and is the younger of two children. His father, David Dhawan, is a renowned Bollywood film director, while his mother is a homemaker. He has an elder brother, Rohit Dhawan, who is also part of the film industry, working as a director. Veteran actor Anil Dhawan is his uncle.
He completed his schooling at Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, and later pursued his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. He graduated with a degree in Business Management from the Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
Dating Life and Marriage
Varun Dhawan is currently in a romantic relationship with his childhood friend Natasha Dalal, who is a fashion designer. He also dated co-student Sara when he was in the US. They tied the knot on January 24, 2021. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lara, on June 3, 2024. On Christmas 2024, he shared the first glimpses of Lara on his Insatgram, featuring Natasha we well. Laura was seen wearning a red checkered frock and Christmas-themed hairband, and Varun captioned it, “Me with my babies. Merry Christmas.”
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 7½ inches Centimeters – 171 cm Meters – 1.71 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 77 kg Pounds – 170 lbs |
| Body Build | Athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 9 (US) |
Career Overview
Varun began his career as an assistant director, working on Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan in 2010. He debuted as an actor in Karan Johar’s romantic comedy film Student of the Year (2012) alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt. He then starred in his father’s directorial venture, Main Tera Hero (2014), a remake of the Telugu film Kandireega, alongside Ileana D’Cruz, Nargis Fakhri, and Anupam Kher.
His next major breakthrough came in 2015 when he took on the role of Raghav, a vengeful husband, in Sriram Raghavan’s neo-noir action thriller film Badlapur, where he starred alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam, and Radhika Apte. Varun played opposite Shraddha Kapoor in ABCD, portraying the real-life character of Kings United founder Suresh Mukund and was cast alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Kriti Sanon, in Rohit Shetty’s action drama Dilwale, his another major release in 2015. It was a mindblowing year that catapulated him to stardom.
In a career spanning more than a decade, Varun has delivered several hits, establishing himself as a prominent star and bankable actor in the entertainment industry. From rom-coms and dance flicks to dark thrillers and social dramas, Varun continues to evolve as an actor, and his journey from a star kid to a self-made superstar is one of modern Bollywood’s most inspiring success stories.
Some of his industry hits include:
Dishoom (2016)
Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017)
Judwaa 2 (2017)
October (2018)
Sui Dhaaga (2018)
Street Dancer 3D (2020)
Bhediya (2022)
JugJugg Jeeyo (2022)
Favorite Things
- Actors – Govinda, Dwayne Johnson
- Actress – Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Angelina Jolie
- Food – Cheesecake, Chicken, Pizza
- Movies – Rang De Basanti, Guide, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Raja Babu, American Psycho
- Songs – Yaad Aa Rahi Hai from the film Love Story (1981), November Rain by Guns n Roses
- Sport – Football
- Perfume – Gucci
- Colors – Red, Black
- Holiday Destinations – UAE, Maldives
Varun Dhawan Net Worth
This young rising star in Bollywood has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He made such a fortune at a young age that comes from his appearances in movies, advertisements, brand endorsements, and personal investments. Varun gets around Rs 8 – 10 crores per film as remuneration.
Varun has a great sense of taste for cars and bikes. He owns an Audi Q7, Royal Enfield Classic 500cc and a Polaris Sportsman 850 quad bike. He resides in a posh house located in Mumbai and also owns several real estate properties around the city.
Social Media Presence
Varun has amassed millions of fans across different social media platforms. Follow Varun on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get insights about the actor.
- Twitter – Varun_dvn
- Facebook – VarunDhawan.co
- Instagram – varundvn
- Snapchat username – vartron
Varun Dhawan Facts
Varun worked as a leaflet distributor for nightclubs while pursuing his graduation in the US.
His debut film ‘Student of the Year’ became huge success at the box office for which he won Lion Gold Favorite Debut Award in 2013.
Varun is a hardcore foodie who loves chicken amongst the non-veg food.
Varun was ranked at #8 in Times of India’s “Most Desirable Man of 2012” list.
He has also released his fitness DVD, which was choreographed by Remo D’Souza.
In 2013, Dhawan performed at a special event alongside Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor and Huma Qureshi to raise funds for the flood-affected victims of Uttarakhand.
Apart from acting, Varun used to perform on stage and co-host award ceremonies.
Since 2014, the actor has been featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list multiple times.
He was worked with big names in the industry, including Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva, Nora Fatehi, Anushka Sharma, Jacqueline Fernandez, Taapsee Pannu, Keerthy Suresh, Janhvi Kapoor, Wamiqa Gabbi, Kiara Advani, and Sara Ali Khan.