Varun Dhawan spoke to Upasana Singh about his forthcoming film based on an unusual love story and how he experienced the presence of spiritual powers around him while essaying his character
One of its kind love story which claims to be a story about love rather than a love story. This time October seems to appear in April with its unusual plot and beautiful chemistry between two lovebirds. A short story of one hour and 45 minutes, the film was shot in a limited time frame of 37 days. “Essaying the role of a hotel management trainee, Danish Walia (Dan), I have really worked on the intricacies of the character. From cleaning toilets, working in the laundry department, trying my hands on the heavy vacuum cleaning machinery and polishing floors, I have performed them all with due efficiency to get into the character”, said Varun.
Varun who is known for his cool, energetic attitude and comic presence in both reel and real life says that the movie has really hit him hard. “Performing the character of an inactive, short-tempered guy who is just opposite to me in real life was tough. For these 37 days, I was completely detached from my personal life. I didn’t use my phone and kept myself isolated. There was a time when I didn’t sleep for approximately one week and as advised by dada (Sircar), I had to clear my mind of all thoughts so I kept myself blank for a specific period of time. That particular span really clicked with me in adopting the character.”
Apart from the phenomenal responses the songs of the film, the title track and Theher Ja have garnered, the appearance of UK(Welsh) based Indian model, Banita Sandhu is another key element in the film. Portraying the role of wheelchair-bound, ill and expressionless young girl, the model-turned-actress has also worked on her Hindi lessons. When Dhawan was asked about how he made the debutant comfortable for her first appearance in Bollywood, he shared, “I really didn’t get much time to teach her in terms of acting. I was deeply involved in the character and completely detached from the outer world. But dada was always there to guide her and me throughout the film.”
As the film narration goes, it is unlike any love story. October eventually leads to an internal awakening of the soul. However, Dhawan also shared how the film helped him in gaining life lessons. “Being blank for an entire week sounds weird but it has actually helped me a lot in figuring out my inner strength and a calm state of mind. When you don’t pressure yourself to think, that’s when you have a conversation with your soul. Also, meditation and spirituality helped me to play this character.”
Talking about the camaraderie the co-stars share in real-life, Dhawan amusingly shared, “Our friendship developed within a few days of shooting. I haven’t met her and neither did we have any conversation before the shoot. Initially, she was shy but as we got to know each other, I found her funny to the extent that she herself cracks a joke and is the only person to laugh at it. Once, we became friends, I realised that she is a caring and a hardworking individual. The level of commitment with regards to her acting is evident in the film.”
Giving us big hits like Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya and Judwaa 2 in 2017, Dhawan will be seen portraying an intense character in the film. However, the actor strongly believes that spiritual vibes helped him with the role which he has never experienced before. “I was surprised by my presence, my tone and the pitch I have on-screen while performing this character. Some intense scenes really made me ponder about the person I was and the person I am in the film. The film has that edge I was looking for my character”, said Varun. The actor who looks up to a good script while selecting a film says there are many other elements than just the storyline. “I keenly observe the script first and then move on to the details of my character. Also, I feel that a director and producer must be equally compatible with the storyline of the film.”
When asked about the expectations and pressure every actor bears before the release of a film, the actor with a changed perspective towards life calmly shared, “I am honestly not feeling that pressure for the first time. I have felt some positive spiritual vibes around me while working on this film. I am not able to explain it properly but I am sure about it.”
He has garnered quite a lot of attention for the character he is playing wherein he turns a pillar of support and strength for the actress Shiuli (Banita Sandhu) who suffers a traumatic accident. In his personal life, he believes Shraddha Kapoor is one such friend who has supported him through thick and thin. “I knew her even before my career began in Bollywood. If I ever share my worries with her, she would come straight to me to help me out with my problems. Also, one thing that I like about her is the quality of being consistent and keeping a check on me if I’m fine or not.”
The actor who will soon be turning 31 on April 24 is essaying the role of a 21-years old guy. Amusingly, elaborating on the advice he would like to convey to his 21-year-old self, he asserted. “To me, I would only say,” Think about the present and don’t bother about the future.”
Emphasising on the learnings he gained from his character, he said, “October has really made me think about an old saying — life is short, we must cherish every moment. This character actually made me realise that we are all unaware of the future and anything could happen to us. I just believe, the moments that one spends with their loved ones must be cherished, always.”