Varun Dhawan got emotional at Border 2’s success event in Mumbai. The actor shared two personal stories that shook him during the film’s making. One involved his father being rushed to the hospital. The other was a late-night phone call from Salman Khan that he will never forget.
When David Dhawan Was in the ICU
Varun was shooting the Battle of Basantar scene in Babina when he got the news. His father, filmmaker David Dhawan, had a health problem and was admitted to the ICU. Varun immediately left the shoot and went home.
“I saw my father in the ICU. I told him I will stay with him,” Varun said. But his father had different plans.
David Dhawan told his son something that changed his thinking. “We make films to entertain people. A producer invests a lot of money. You must go back tomorrow morning and report for your call time,” the veteran filmmaker said from his hospital bed.
That moment hit Varun hard. It made him realize what really matters in life. “When such real things happen in life, then what is trolling? It is nothing,” he explained.
The Late-Night Calls from Salman Khan
During the same time, Varun was facing heavy trolling online. People were making fun of his smile in the Border 2 trailer. Many said he couldn’t play a serious war hero.
That’s when Salman Khan called him late at night.
“I got a call from Salman bhai at night and he was just laughing. He told me, ‘Good things are about to come.’ That’s all he said,” Varun shared. Those simple words gave him strength when he needed it most.
But the story doesn’t end there. After Border 2 became a hit, Salman called again. This time it was 2 am.
“He called me and said he was so happy for all of us. Then he said something that stays very close to my heart,” Varun recalled. “It was 2 am and I stood up on my bed after hearing it. He said, ‘I am proud of you, beta.'”
Varun knows Salman Khan doesn’t praise people easily. “That was a very defining moment for me because he doesn’t praise people easily,” he added.
How Varun Handled the Trolling
Before Border 2 released, social media was brutal to Varun Dhawan. Users questioned if he could pull off playing a Param Vir Chakra awardee. The trolling got worse every day.
But Varun chose not to let it break him.
“First of all, trolling happens to everyone. These days it has become a fashion,” he said at the press conference. “Some people can take it in their stride, some cannot. Luckily, I could take it.”
He credits his family for standing by him. “I did not take it very seriously, and I had the support of my family,” Varun explained.
The actor also leaned on his faith during tough times. “At the end of the day, I believed in the film, I believed in Lord Krishna, and whatever this is now, I guess it has become a part of history,” he said.
Border 2’s Blockbuster Run
Border 2 hit theatres on January 23, 2026. The film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. Despite all the negativity before release, the movie has turned into a massive success at the box office.
The war drama has proved all the doubters wrong. And for Varun Dhawan, it’s more than just a hit film. It’s a reminder that belief and hard work always win.
