Varun Dhawan seeks blessings from on-screen 'Maa' Mouni Roy ahead of 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'
Synopsis
Varun Dhawan's Instagram post — head bowed before on-screen 'Maa' Mouni Roy — is a lighthearted peek behind the curtain of 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', a film that carries unexpected emotional stakes: it is reportedly director David Dhawan's swan song, a fact that has already moved Karan Johar to a heartfelt public tribute.
Key Takeaways
Varun Dhawan shared pictures on Instagram seeking blessings from co-star Mouni Roy , who plays his on-screen mother in 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' .
Manish Paul commented 'Maaaaaaaaa' on the post, adding to the playful cast camaraderie.
The film is produced by Ramesh Taurani (Tips Films) and co-produced by Gaurav Bose (Maximilian Films), starring Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde alongside Varun.
This is the fourth film together for director David Dhawan and son Varun Dhawan , after 'Main Tera Hero', 'Judwaa 2', and 'Coolie No.
David Dhawan has reportedly indicated this will be his last film before retirement , prompting an emotional public tribute from Karan Johar .
Varun Dhawan offered a playful yet heartfelt tribute to his on-screen mother by seeking blessings from co-star Mouni Roy in a set of pictures shared on his official Instagram handle, ahead of the release of their upcoming film 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'.
The Instagram Moment
In the pictures, Varun was seen with his head bowed and hands folded before Mouni, who obliged with a blessing in full filmi style. A second frame captured the two in a warm side hug, smiling for the camera. Varun kept his caption minimal — just a folded-hands emoji — letting the images speak for themselves.
Actor Manish Paul, who shares screen space with both in the film, joined in on the fun from the comments section, writing 'Maaaaaaaaa' followed by a string of laughing emojis — a reaction that quickly caught attention online.
About the Film
'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is produced by Ramesh Taurani under the banner of Tips Films, and co-produced by Gaurav Bose of Maximilian Films. The film stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles, with Manish Paul, Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill, and Mouni Roy in supporting parts.
A Milestone Father-Son Collaboration
The project marks the fourth collaboration between director David Dhawan and his son Varun, following 'Main Tera Hero' (2014), 'Judwaa 2' (2017), and 'Coolie No. 1' (2020). It carries added emotional weight as David Dhawan has hinted this may be his final film before retirement.
Filmmaker Karan Johar shared an emotional post about the development, writing: '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!' Johar added, 'He is LOVED and RESPECTED and CELEBRATED by our fraternity… Here's to your summer blockbuster with your son….. DAVID DHAWAN… NO 1 man always.'
As the film inches closer to release, the cast's camaraderie — on full display in Varun's Instagram post — suggests the energy on set has been anything but ordinary. All eyes are now on whether the Dhawan duo can deliver another crowd-pleaser.
Point of View
But the real story here is David Dhawan. A director who virtually invented the mass-comedy template for Hindi cinema in the 1990s and 2000s is reportedly signing off — and the industry's response, led by Karan Johar's emotional post, reflects how foundational that contribution was. Whether 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' lands as a fitting farewell or simply another entry in a long filmography will be the question critics and fans answer together at the box office. The Varun-Mouni blessings post, however light-hearted, is doing exactly what pre-release marketing should: keeping the film in conversation.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Varun Dhawan seek blessings from Mouni Roy?
Mouni Roy plays Varun Dhawan's on-screen mother in 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', and the pictures Varun posted on Instagram show him playfully seeking her blessings in keeping with their reel relationship. The post was captioned with a folded-hands emoji.
What is 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' about and who is in it?
'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is an upcoming Bollywood film starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde in lead roles, with Mouni Roy, Manish Paul, Chunky Pandey, and Jimmy Shergill in supporting parts. It is produced by Ramesh Taurani under Tips Films.
Is 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' David Dhawan's last film?
David Dhawan has reportedly indicated that this film may be his last before retirement, according to filmmaker Karan Johar, who shared an emotional social media post after a recent celebration. The film marks the fourth collaboration between David Dhawan and his son Varun.
What did Karan Johar say about David Dhawan's retirement?
Karan Johar posted a tribute saying David Dhawan told him the film would be his last, calling it a 'bittersweet' moment. He described David Dhawan as 'a filmmaker who is responsible for creating an entire Genre of films' and celebrated him as 'LOVED and RESPECTED and CELEBRATED' by the film fraternity.
How many films have Varun Dhawan and David Dhawan made together?
'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is their fourth collaboration. The previous three were 'Main Tera Hero' (2014), 'Judwaa 2' (2017), and 'Coolie No. 1' (2020).
