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Varun Dhawan: I don't think of myself as a hero

'My brother criticises me too much. I live with two directors who are the actual stars because they make the films.'

Varun Dhawan explains why he has matured as an actor.

Actor Varun Dhawan says his upcoming film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is a tribute to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Varun reunites with his Student Of The Year co-star Alia Bhatt for this July 11 release, directed by Shashank Kaitan.

Varun talks to Rajul Hegde about films, his co-star and why he is not dating anyone at the moment.

Alia is your good friend. How does the equation change when you act in a film together?

Alia has grown as an actress. She has done amazing work. It was great getting back with her.

In my first film Student Of The Year, we didn’t have much scope for romance. This time around I had to flirt with her in a lot of scenes.

She would call me cheap or laugh at me. It was fun.

I think the energy of our real life chemistry (love and hate friendship) has translated nicely on screen.

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'People think I am funny on-screen because of Mein Tera Hero'

Do you see yourself as a romantic or an action hero? Is rom-com your favourite genre?

I don’t think of myself as a hero at all. I look at myself as an actor.

And I wouldn’t call Mein Tera Hero a rom-com because I don’t feel the love track was given much attention.

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya is an out-and-out love story.

Nowadays people think I am funny on-screen because of Mein Tera Hero.

'If I shave and sit next to Alia, I will look younger than her'

Do you think you will be able to pull off a role like Siddharth Malhotra’s in Ek Villain?

May be, if I got it. But I don’t want to do something like that at the moment because my face doesn’t suit it.

I think I need to mature more. If I shave and sit next to Alia, I will look younger than her.

Siddharth, Sushant Singh, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor are all older than I am. I am probably the youngest actor apart from Tiger (Shroff).

It’s an advantage and disadvantage because you grow up near the audience. The amount of time I have stayed in college I don’t think anyone else has. This is my third film and finally I will graduate in this film and leave college (smiles).

Please continue…

But I am doing other stuff. I am doing a thriller film, Badlapur, with Sriram Raghavan which is not a commercial masala but a little twisted.

A thriller has to be very intelligent and I don’t want to dumb it down.

'Alia dominates other actors'

What’s the status of Badlapur?

We have shot the first half in an unknown area near Pune where nobody gets to see the look of the film.

Does Alia having a dominating effect on her co-stars due to her overpowering screen presence?

Not on me, but yes, she dominates other actors.

That’s what others have said when I have met them, but she doesn't do that with me.

I know the real Alia and also I know how to push her buttons and make her cry.

I just have to say one thing and next minute she will start crying. She cries at least once or twice a day (smiles).

Do you share a better rapport with Alia than other actresses you have worked with?

Yes, I am probably closer to her. I think the film is in a space between friendship and love and the space we are in also.

'My bride should be beautiful and intelligent'

There are rumours of you dating Natasha Dalal, an upcoming fashion designer.

I have a lot of friends from school and childhood who are girls and I am still friends with them.

As far as a romantic liaison is concerned, I genuinely don’t have the time right now. At the moment I am single.

Your film is apparently inspired by the film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayange (DDLJ)…

It’s a modern day tribute to DDLJ.

I am not playing Raj, nor Alia, Simran. But there are a few scenes in the film that will remind people of that film.

What kind of dulhania (bride) do you want in real life?

She should be very helpful, protective and ambitious.

She should be beautiful and intelligent.

Also, you need a person in your life who pushes you to do something.

'My brother points out my mistakes and also motivates me to be better'

How do you stay grounded?

My brother criticises me too much. He points out my mistakes and also motivates me to be better.

You need to realise that I live with two directors who are the actual stars because they make the films.

Are you undergoing any training for Remo D’ Souza’s ABCD 2?

It’s a patriotic film. The shooting is yet to start.

We are undergoing lots of training because of different forms of dancing.

One dance has six songs and everybody is finding it difficult, including the professional dancers.