Varun Dhawan (born 24 April 1987) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. He is the son of the comedy director David Dhawan. He made his debut in Student of the Year (2012) and became one of the most bankable young stars of the 2010s with hits such as Main Tera Hero, Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2. He also won praise for darker roles in Badlapur and October. His war film Border 2 (2026) was a major box-office success.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Varun Dhawan |
| Born | 24 April 1987, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Age | 39 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Father | David Dhawan (film director) |
| Sibling | Rohit Dhawan (director) |
| Education | Business management, Nottingham Trent University, UK |
| Spouse | Natasha Dalal (m. 2021) |
| Children | 1 (daughter, born 2024) |
| Known for | Student of the Year, Badlapur, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Judwaa 2, October, Bhediya, Border 2 |
Early Life
Dhawan was born in Bombay to the director David Dhawan, known for his 1990s comedies with Govinda. His elder brother, Rohit Dhawan, is also a director. He studied at Bombay Scottish School and H.R. College, then earned a degree in business management from Nottingham Trent University in England. He worked as an assistant director on Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan (2010).
Career
Johar launched Dhawan alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt in Student of the Year (2012). He followed it with the comedy Main Tera Hero (2014), directed by his father, and the romance Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) with Alia Bhatt. He surprised critics as a man seeking revenge in Sriram Raghavan’s thriller Badlapur (2015). He also starred in the dance film ABCD 2 (2015) with Shraddha Kapoor and Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale (2015) with Shah Rukh Khan and Kriti Sanon.
Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), again with Alia Bhatt, and his father’s Judwaa 2 (2017) were major hits. He won acclaim for Shoojit Sircar’s quiet drama October (2018) and starred in Sui Dhaaga (2018) and the period drama Kalank (2019). In 2020 he starred with Sara Ali Khan in a remake of his father’s Coolie No. 1.
Dhawan played a man who turns into a werewolf in the horror comedy Bhediya (2022), with Kriti Sanon, and co-starred with Janhvi Kapoor in Bawaal (2023). He led the Prime Video spy series Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024) with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and the action film Baby John (2024). He reunited with Janhvi Kapoor in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025). In 2026 he starred alongside Sunny Deol in the war drama Border 2, one of the biggest hits of the year, and in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by his father.
Personal Life
Dhawan married the fashion designer Natasha Dalal, his childhood friend, on 24 January 2021 in Alibaug. Their daughter was born on 3 June 2024.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Varun Dhawan born?
Varun Dhawan was born on 24 April 1987 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India and is 39 years old.
What is Varun Dhawan known for?
Known for: Student of the Year, Badlapur, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Judwaa 2, October, Bhediya, Border 2.
Featured image: Varun Dhawan. Photo by Bollywood Hungama, licensed under CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
