Before securing a prominent foothold in Bollywood, Varun Dhawan refined his professional foundation by earning a business studies degree from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. Born in Mumbai in 1987, he moved from behind the camera as an assistant director to establishing a high-profile acting career within the Hindi film industry throughout the 2010s.
Early Career and Acting Debut
Dhawan began his professional path working under director Karan Johar as an assistant on the 2010 social drama My Name Is Khan. His transition to lead roles occurred in 2012 with the release of the teen drama Student of the Year. This project marked his debut alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt, grossing over one billion rupees globally and establishing his presence in the commercial film landscape.
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Take the IQ test →Diversification of Roles
While early successes centered on romantic comedies such as Main Tera Hero and the Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania series, Dhawan sought roles that deviated from his established persona. The 2015 crime thriller Badlapur required him to portray a man seeking vengeance over a decade, a performance that earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor nomination. He later gained critical recognition for his portrayal of an aimless man in the 2018 drama October.
Commercial Trajectory
The actor achieved significant box office returns through films like the 2015 dance feature ABCD 2 and the 2015 action drama Dilwale, the latter of which became his highest-grossing release for a period. His career continued with projects including Dishoom, Judwaa 2, and the 2018 drama Sui Dhaaga. Although subsequent years presented various critical and commercial challenges, he secured another success with the 2026 war film Border 2, in which he portrayed Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 April 1987, Mumbai
- Education: Nottingham Trent University
- Religion: Hinduism
- Father: David Dhawan
- Spouse: Natasha Dalal
- Acting debut: Student of the Year (2012)
Questions readers ask
What was Varun Dhawan's first role in the film industry?
Before his acting debut, he worked as an assistant director on the 2010 film My Name Is Khan.
Which university did he attend?
He earned a degree in business studies from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom.
