Varun Dhawan reveals he rejected Andhadhun, he was offered lead with Kangana Ranaut

Varun Dhawan (Picture via Instagram)

Varun Dhawan has made a surprising revelation about one of Bollywood's most acclaimed thrillers, Andhadhun. The actor recently shared that he was originally offered the lead role in director Sriram Raghavan's National Award-winning film before it eventually went to Ayushmann Khurrana.

Varun Dhawan reveals he was offered Andhadhun

Speaking candidly about the opportunity, Varun admitted that he turned down the project due to scheduling and professional commitments at the time. Looking back, the actor acknowledged that the decision remains one of the major "what if" moments of his career.

Released in 2018, Andhadhun went on to become a critical and commercial success. The film earned widespread praise for its gripping narrative, unexpected twists, and stellar performances. Ayushmann Khurrana's portrayal of a visually impaired pianist caught in a web of crime won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, while the film itself emerged as one of the most celebrated thrillers in recent Indian cinema.

Varun revealed that when the script first came to him, he was unable to take it up because of prior commitments. The actor admitted that he later realised the magnitude of the opportunity he had let go. Despite missing out on the project, he expressed admiration for the film and the way it eventually shaped Ayushmann's career.

Varun Dhawan was paired opposite Kangana Ranaut for Andhadhun

Another interesting detail that emerged from the conversation was related to the film's casting. Before the final ensemble was locked, actress Kangana Ranaut was reportedly being considered for a key role in the thriller. However, the casting eventually took a different direction, with Tabu and Radhika Apte joining the project alongside Ayushmann. Tabu's performance, in particular, became one of the most talked-about aspects of the film and earned widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Over the years, Varun has balanced commercial entertainers with performance-driven films such as Badlapur, October, and Sui Dhaaga. While he has enjoyed considerable box-office success, the actor's admission about Andhadhun offers a glimpse into how even established stars occasionally pass on projects that later become landmark films.

As fans revisit the revelation, many are imagining what the thriller might have looked like with Varun in the lead. However, most agree that Andhadhun ultimately found its perfect cast, becoming a modern classic that continues to be celebrated years after its release.