Varun spills the beans on his biggest regret
Bollywood’s eternal ‘badla’ with missed opportunities just got a juicy new chapter. Varun Dhawan, who’s currently riding the wave of his latest release ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, has dropped a revelation that’s got fans doing a double take. During a candid chat on comedian Tanmay Bhat’s YouTube channel, the actor opened up about the film he regrets saying no to — and it’s none other than Sriram Raghavan’s masterpiece ‘Andhadhun’. Yes, the same film that had us all guessing till the very end.
When Tanmay asked if there was a major project he’d passed on and later regretted, Varun didn’t mince words. ‘I think a good movie. I think I said no to a good film,’ he said, before revealing the title. ‘Andhadhun. I was filming for something else. So I couldn’t do it. And the original cast of the film was supposed to be me and Kangana.’ The admission has set the grapevine buzzing, especially since the film eventually starred Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, and Radhika Apte, and went on to become a critical and commercial juggernaut in 2018.
Interestingly, industry insiders have long whispered about this what-if scenario. Varun and Raghavan had previously worked together on the gritty thriller ‘Badlapur’ in 2015, and reports suggest they were keen to reunite. Sources close to the production reveal that Varun was genuinely excited about the concept of ‘Andhadhun’, but scheduling conflicts with other commitments forced him to step back. Raghavan then began scouting for a new lead, eventually landing on Ayushmann, who delivered a career-defining performance.
The film that got away
For Varun, this isn’t just any missed role — it’s a film that won multiple awards and is still hailed as one of Raghavan’s finest works. ‘Andhadhun’ not only wowed critics but also raked in impressive numbers at the box office, proving that thrillers with smart storytelling can have mainstream appeal. Tabu’s layered performance and the unpredictable screenplay became talking points for years after the film’s release.
Varun’s revelation has reignited discussions about what could have been. Imagine Varun and Kangana as the blind pianist and the femme fatale — a pairing that would have brought a completely different energy to the narrative. While Kangana’s intensity is unquestionable, Varun’s charm and comic timing might have added a lighter shade to the dark tale. However, as fate would have it, Ayushmann’s everyman quality and Tabu’s magnetic presence turned ‘Andhadhun’ into a cult classic.
The actor didn’t specify which project clashed with ‘Andhadhun’, but his packed schedule at that time included hits like ‘Judwaa 2’ and ‘Sui Dhaaga’. Clearly, the universe had different plans for both Varun and the film. As for Ayushmann, the role earned him widespread acclaim and cemented his reputation as the king of content-driven cinema.
Current projects and box office buzz
Meanwhile, Varun is keeping himself busy with family and films. He’s currently seen in ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, directed by his father David Dhawan. The romantic comedy, which also stars Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, hit theatres on June 5. Despite generating decent pre-release buzz, the film recorded a modest opening at the box office. Industry watchers are keeping a close eye on its performance over the weekend.
Varun’s candidness on Tanmay Bhat’s show has once again shown that the actor isn’t afraid to own up to his professional regrets. While he may have missed the ‘Andhadhun’ train, his filmography still boasts of crowd-pleasers and critical darlings. And who knows? Maybe another Sriram Raghavan thriller is waiting around the corner for him. After all, Bollywood loves a good comeback story, na?