Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has declared Rakhi Sawant a genuine pop culture icon, making the remarks during a recent appearance on comedian Tanmay Bhat's show. The candid episode, which has since drawn attention online, saw Dhawan reflect on Sawant's outsized cultural footprint — and on his own experience of being a meme target.

Varun on Rakhi Sawant's Cultural Status

The conversation turned to Sawant after the group watched an internet meme featuring a concert installation that bore a striking resemblance to her. Dhawan was unambiguous in his admiration. 'She's a part of pop culture now. I think she's an icon. And seeing her, I think a lot of people have copied her. A lot of people try to copy her but obviously, there's one Rakhi Sawant,' he said.

The remark captures a broader truth about Sawant's trajectory — from item numbers and reality television to becoming a recurring reference point in Indian internet culture, she has built a presence that outlasts conventional fame cycles.

Father David Dhawan's Roast Idea

The episode also revealed a behind-the-scenes moment involving director David Dhawan, Varun's father. The elder Dhawan had reportedly conceived a scene for Varun's new film in which his character's children share his famously meme-d smile — a pointed bit of self-deprecating humour aimed squarely at his son. The scene was ultimately dropped. 'It was supposed to be a scene where I have kids, and their smile is same as mine. I was like, "Why do you want to do that?" He said, "No, no, let's do it. People will laugh at you,"' Varun recounted.

Varun Opens Up About Being Trolled for His Smile

Dhawan was equally candid about his own experience as a meme subject. When asked whether he had anticipated trolling over his smile, he said the target surprised him. 'No, I thought I would be made fun of because of something else. I never thought anyone would make fun of this. I thought there are so many things — like my voice, for instance. I would literally sound like an 8-year-old girl, initially. That's what my brother used to tell me. When I made my debut, I thought voice, height, bad acting, etc. I didn't think the smile was so bad.'

Rather than bristling at the jokes, Dhawan said he eventually found them genuinely funny. 'I think after a while, it became funny. It actually became funny for me. I found the biscuit one very funny,' he added, referencing a specific meme that gained wide circulation.

The Broader Picture

Dhawan's appearance on Bhat's show fits a pattern of Bollywood actors using comedy-first digital formats to connect with younger audiences — a space where candour and self-deprecation tend to land better than polished promotional interviews. His willingness to engage with memes about himself, and to credit Sawant's cultural staying power, signals a comfort with the internet's reframing of celebrity on its own terms. With his new film in the pipeline, the timing of such appearances is rarely accidental.