Biography
Who is Varun Dhawan?
Early life and background
Varun Dhawan was born in Mumbai, India, on April 24, 1987. His father is David Dhawan, who works as a film director, and his mother is Karuna Dhawan. The family identifies as Punjabi Hindu. His older brother, Rohit Dhawan, also pursues a career in film direction. Also, his uncle Anil is an actor, and he has other relatives in the entertainment field, including fashion designer Manish Malhotra and directors Punit Malhotra and Kunal Kohli.
For his education, he attended the Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai. He later received his HSC education at the H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. Following this, he moved to the United Kingdom to study at Nottingham Trent University, where he earned a degree in business studies.
Career start and breakout roles
Before he began acting professionally, Varun worked as an assistant director for the social drama My Name Is Khan in 2010, working under director Karan Johar. He made his official debut in front of the camera in the 2012 teen film Student of the Year. In this project, he played the character Rohan Nanda, a wealthy businessman's son competing in a school championship. The film was a commercial success, grossing over one billion rupees worldwide.
His subsequent projects included the romantic comedy Main Tera Hero in 2014, directed by his father. This film performed well at the box office. He also starred as Rakesh in the romantic comedy Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, which was another significant commercial hit for him. During this period, critics noted his ability to handle both comedic and vulnerable scenes effectively.
Established film work
In 2015, he starred in the crime thriller Badlapur, portraying a man seeking revenge for his family's murder. This role was a departure from his usual screen persona and earned him a nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Later that year, he featured in the dance film ABCD 2, where he played a character based on dancer Suresh Mukund. The film performed well, grossing over one billion rupees.
He continued his career with various roles, including an ensemble part in the action drama Dilwale, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. By 2017, his success in films like Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 led to recognition as a major Bollywood star. He also received acclaim for his work in the 2018 drama October, where he played a hotel management trainee dealing with a colleague's health crisis.
Personal life and recent projects
Off-screen, he is married to designer Natasha Dalal. The couple has a daughter together. Throughout his career, he has also served as a celebrity endorser for various commercial brands and products.
In recent years, he has taken on roles in films like the period drama Kalank and the dance film Street Dancer 3D. While some of his recent releases faced critical and commercial challenges, he received a positive reception for his 2022 projects, specifically the family drama Jugjugg Jeeyo and the horror comedy Bhediya. He also portrayed Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya in the 2026 war film Border 2.
Birthday and age
Varun Dhawan was born on April 24, 1987, which makes Varun 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Varun shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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