From student to soldier, 8 memorable roles of Varun Dhawan

The Student Phase

As a student, the performance leaned heavily on his running, dancing, showing up as the macho lead. It showed his comfort with the camera and commercial cinema

Finding the Lover - Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

Set away from elite campuses, Varun needed to be vulnerable. His dance and chemistry with Alia Bhatt aside, fans remember Humpty`s affability

The Big Headturner - Badlapur

A risky choice, but it made the star give way to the solid actor in him. The film asked him to sit in anger and grief without relief, and he proved his mettle

Using the Body as Craft - ABCD 2

This film was all about effort, rehearsal, injury and the zest of not giving up, which he mastered with his disciplined approach. Also, he dances like a dream!

Learning to Be Quiet - October

With no punchlines or emotional speeches, the performance depended on patience. He spoke little, reacted slowly and carried melancholy without explanation.

Stepping into the Ordinary - Sui Dhaaga

His body language changed as he slouched shoulders, moved hesitantly, went through spells of awkward silence, choosing a story about survival and self-respect

Playing with Genre - Bhediya

He flawlessly performed the transformation into a werewolf, and the humour around the character lands well, experimenting without losing emotional grounding

From Fiction to the Uniform - Border 2

Playing a war veteran demanded his all, and he didn`t hold back. With rigorous on-ground preparation and physical tenacity, he brought forth his A-game