Varun Dhawan on why escapist-films can run parallel to slice-of-life films

Varun Dhawan who has entertained the masses through his many shades of characters over the last few years, has said he feels that there is now room to have escapist-cinema and slice-of-life-films shown parallel to each other.

Reported on DNA India, the ‘October’ (2018) actor has demonstrated both genres with films such as ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’ (2017), ‘Judwaa 2’ (2017) to his most recent release ‘Sui Dhaaga’ (2018), showcasing his versatile acting skills, explains how the two can co-exist. “I think the slice-of-life heartland films or the more common man films are always going to run. There was phase probably in the ’90s or maybe some other time, there was an escapist kind of cinema, which was doing very well. Escapist cinema is always going to do well. I think they can run parallel.”

Being the son of one of the biggest directors to make escapist-films – David Dhawan, boasting hits such as ‘Coolie No. 1’ (1995), ‘Biwi No.1’ (1999) and the original ‘Judwaa’ (1997), the ‘Dilwale’ (2015) actor likes the fresh ideas brought in to the industry by new directors. “I think what’s changed is a lot of new directors are coming from different parts of the country. I’ve worked for Shashank Khaitan (Dulhania series), who is from Nasik. Our director Sharat (Katariya) and producer Maneesh (Sharma) are from Delhi. There are lots of people from Delhi, they our coming from the north and bringing their flavours to cinema.”

Dhawan is currently shooting for his next project ‘Kalank’, an entirely different type of film to what he has done to date. Co-produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Abhishek Varman, the film will see the actor in an all star cast in what will be Dhawan’s first period drama.