Chunky Panday shares BTS from 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' Scotland shoot
Synopsis
Chunky Panday's Scotland BTS drop isn't just a promo carousel — it lands the day before what Karan Johar has called David Dhawan's last film. 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', starring Varun Dhawan and Mrunal Thakur, releases 5 June, potentially closing a comedy era Dhawan defined through the 1990s.
Key Takeaways
Chunky Panday shared behind-the-scenes images from the Scotland schedule of 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' on 4 June .
Panday plays Dr Gulati in the film, which releases in cinemas on 5 June .
The cast includes Varun Dhawan , Mrunal Thakur , Pooja Hegde , Maniesh Paul , Jimmy Shergill , and Rakesh Bedi , with Mouni Roy in a guest role.
Director David Dhawan has reportedly told Karan Johar that this is his last film.
The film is produced by Ramesh Taurani .
Veteran actor Chunky Panday on 4 June shared a clutch of behind-the-scenes photographs from the Scotland schedule of his upcoming romantic comedy 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', days before the film's theatrical release. The actor, who plays Dr Gulati in the David Dhawan-directed entertainer, posted the candid frames on Instagram ahead of the 5 June release.
What Chunky Panday posted
The carousel features Panday striking poses with co-stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Jimmy Shergill, Rakesh Bedi, and director David Dhawan. One image shows him wrapping his arm around Varun, another captures a solo pose, while a third has him in a goofy moment with Mrunal Thakur.
In the caption, Panday wrote, “Finally got to play a doctor #drgulati. Had a blast filming #haijawanitohishqhonahai in Scotland. I'm sure you'll enjoy it while watching it in cinemas tomorrow.”
About the film
Produced by Ramesh Taurani, the romantic comedy stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, and Maniesh Paul, with Mouni Roy in a guest appearance. The film hits theatres on 5 June.
Karan Johar's emotional note on David Dhawan
The release coincides with a wave of nostalgia after filmmaker Karan Johar revealed that 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is reportedly David Dhawan's last directorial venture. In an Instagram post, Johar wrote, “Yesterday, when I went to Davidji's celebration, he told me this was going to be his last film… I had a bittersweet reaction in my heart… here's a filmmaker who is responsible for creating an entire Genre of films… A DAVID DHAWAN film spells entertainment!”
He added, “What must he feel saying this when he is an institution that so many filmmakers have taken forward as inspiration. He is LOVED and RESPECTED and CELEBRATED by our fraternity… There's NO opposing that!!! Here's to your summer blockbuster with your son….. DAVID DHAWAN… NO 1 man always.”
A father-son swansong
If confirmed as Dhawan's final film, the project becomes a generational bookend — a veteran director signing off with his son Varun Dhawan headlining the cast, alongside long-time collaborators like Chunky Panday and Rakesh Bedi who anchored the 1990s comedy era he helped define.
What's next
The film opens in cinemas on 5 June, and early industry buzz is centred on whether Dhawan's signature broad-comedy formula still lands with post-pandemic audiences raised on streaming-led storytelling.
Point of View
But the subtext is heavier than the carousel suggests. If Karan Johar's claim holds, this is the curtain call for a director who built an entire grammar of mainstream Hindi comedy — the loud, large-hearted, plot-light template that ruled the 1990s. The choice to close with his son Varun in the lead, and 90s-era regulars like Chunky Panday and Rakesh Bedi in the frame, reads less like a casting decision and more like a deliberate farewell. Whether audiences trained on streaming-era nuance still buy the formula is the real test on 5 June.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' release?
The film releases in cinemas on 5 June. It is directed by David Dhawan and produced by Ramesh Taurani.
Who stars in 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'?
The film stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, and Maniesh Paul in lead roles, with Chunky Panday, Jimmy Shergill, and Rakesh Bedi in supporting parts. Mouni Roy appears in a guest role.
What role does Chunky Panday play in the film?
Chunky Panday plays Dr Gulati in 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'. He has called it a long-awaited turn at playing a doctor on screen.
Is this David Dhawan's last film?
According to Karan Johar's Instagram post, David Dhawan personally told him that 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' would be his last directorial. Dhawan himself has not issued a formal public confirmation.
Where was 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' filmed?
Key portions of the film were shot in Scotland, as confirmed by Chunky Panday in his behind-the-scenes Instagram post.
