Varun Dhawan reveals David Dhawan's unused smile joke from new film
Synopsis
Varun Dhawan has revealed that his father David Dhawan actually scripted a scene for 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' where Varun's on-screen children would inherit his famous side smile — purely to get laughs at his expense. David eventually dropped it, but the story is a rare, unfiltered look at how the Dhawan family dynamic plays out behind the camera.
Key Takeaways
Varun Dhawan appeared on comedian Tanmay Bhat's show and discussed being trolled for his side smile.
Varun said he originally expected criticism for his voice, height, or acting — not his smile.
David Dhawan had planned a scene in 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' where Varun's on-screen children would share his smile, but the scene was cut.
David's pitch to his son: 'No, no, let's do it.
People will laugh at you.' Varun said the trolling eventually became funny to him, singling out the 'biscuit' joke as a favourite.
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has opened up about being gently roasted by his father, veteran director David Dhawan, over his now-famous side smile — and revealed that the elder Dhawan had actually planned to work the joke into Varun's latest release, 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', before ultimately dropping the idea.
The Roast on Tanmay Bhat's Show
Varun made the revelation during a recent appearance on comedian Tanmay Bhat's show, where he spoke candidly about being trolled for his smile. Reflecting on what he had originally expected critics to target, Varun said, '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.'
Varun's Good-Humoured Take
Rather than bristling at the ribbing, Varun said he eventually came to enjoy the jokes himself. 'I think after a while, it became funny. It actually became funny for me. I found the biscuit one very funny,' he said. The actor's willingness to laugh at himself has won him appreciation from fans who have long noted his self-deprecating streak in public appearances.
David Dhawan's Scrapped Scene
The most revealing moment came when Varun disclosed that David Dhawan had conceived a scene specifically designed to poke fun at his son's smile. 'There's a joke in my new film, which my dad wanted to do on me. But then eventually he didn't do it. It was supposed to be a scene where I have kids, and their smile is the same as mine,' Varun recounted. When he pushed back on the idea, his father's response was characteristically blunt: 'No, no, let's do it. People will laugh at you.' The scene was ultimately cut from the final film.
Film in Focus
'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' has been receiving a positive audience response since its release. The film marks another collaboration within the Dhawan family, with David Dhawan directing and Varun starring — a pairing that has a long and commercially successful history in Hindi cinema. The candid behind-the-scenes anecdote adds a lighter, personal dimension to the film's promotional run.
Point of View
But it also signals a comfort level with using his son as material that few star families would air publicly. Varun's willingness to recount it — and laugh — is a deliberate piece of image management: the self-aware star is harder to wound than the defensive one. In an era where celebrity PR is relentlessly curated, this kind of candour, even if partly calculated, cuts through.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did David Dhawan plan to do with Varun's smile in 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'?
David Dhawan had conceived a scene where Varun's on-screen children would share his distinctive side smile, purely as a joke at Varun's expense. The scene was ultimately not used in the final film.
Where did Varun Dhawan reveal this story?
Varun shared the anecdote during a recent appearance on comedian Tanmay Bhat's show, where he spoke openly about being trolled for his smile.
How does Varun Dhawan feel about being trolled for his smile?
Varun said he initially did not expect his smile to attract attention, having anticipated criticism for his voice or acting instead. Over time, he said the jokes became funny to him, and he singled out the 'biscuit' joke as one he genuinely found amusing.
What is 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'?
It is Varun Dhawan's recently released Bollywood film, directed by his father David Dhawan, which has been receiving a positive audience response at the time of the interview.
What did Varun say his brother told him when he made his debut?
Varun recalled that his brother told him he sounded like an 8-year-old girl when he first started out, which was one of the things Varun had expected to be trolled for rather than his smile.
