Varun Dhawan was ‘upset’ after Aditya Chopra refused to cast him in an action film: ‘I’m not Delulu…’

During a recent press conference for Citadel: Honey Bunny, Varun Dhawan spoke about his experience with Yash Raj Films (YRF) and his aspirations for action roles. In a candid chat, he revealed that he had approached YRF chairman Aditya Chopra about casting him in an action film. However, the answer was a resounding no, as Aditya stated, “We can’t invest that much money”, implying that Varun was not yet at the level where this project could be financially viable. YRF is known for delivering action blockbusters like Salman Khan starrer Tiger, Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Hrithik Roshan’s War.

When asked if he was “upset” after Aditya’s refusal, Varun told Galatta India in a new interview, “Obviously one hundred percent (I was upset). But look, there are different levels of commerciality. Now if Adi sir is making films with super-duper stars like Salman bhai and Hrithik Roshan, then this budget will be much more. He acknowledged the reality of the film industry, stating, “I am not tell him that my budgets will be the same as his. I have to work up to that level. But what’s wrong with trying?”

Varun said his pursuit of action roles is not just about ego, but about understanding the dynamics of cinema. “I learned quite a bit of effort, how much equipment and how much money it takes to make a movie of this caliber,” he said. He acknowledged the importance of viability in the film industry, admitting, “I’m fine knowing I’m not right now.”

Despite the setback, Varun is committed to improving his craft and working on bigger budget projects. He acknowledged the gap between Indian and Western film budgets, but expressed confidence in the quality and talent present in the Indian film industry. “Sometimes, where you don’t get the budget, the talent makes up for a lot of things,” he said.

At the trailer launch of Citadel: Honey Bunny, Varun reiterated his ambition to prove himself in the action genre, revealing that his discussions with Aditya Chopra have only fueled his determination.

“I asked Aditya Chopra why he can’t do an action film with younger talent and if he can cast me in a film. But he said he only wants to give me acting roles, not action .But I kept chasing him and then he said, ‘Look, I can’t give you that quote right now.’ and then I asked him what is the budget. Then he gave me a figure that something big needs to be done in action,” Varun told the press conference.