Varun Dhawan, one of Bollywood's most dependable box-office stars, is an Indian actor known for his energy, comic timing and surprising dramatic range. The son of veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, he made his acting debut with Karan Johar's Student of the Year in 2012 and quickly established himself as one of the most bankable young actors of his generation.
From fun rom-coms like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania to intense, acclaimed performances in Badlapur and October, Varun Dhawan has moved confidently between genres. Now 39, he is enjoying the biggest success of his career with Border 2, the war epic released in January 2026.
Early Life & Education
Varun Dhawan was born on 24 April 1987 in Mumbai to director David Dhawan and Karuna Dhawan. Growing up in a film family gave him an early love for cinema, but he chose to complete his education first. He earned a business degree from Nottingham Trent University in England before returning to India to chase his acting dream.
Before facing the camera, Varun learned filmmaking behind the scenes, working as an assistant director to Karan Johar on the 2010 film My Name Is Khan. The experience gave him a practical understanding of how films are made and prepared him for his eventual debut.
Career
Varun Dhawan's acting debut came in 2012 with Student of the Year, a Karan Johar production that launched him alongside fellow newcomers Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The film was a commercial success, and Varun's confident, charismatic performance made him an instant star. Read our detailed Alia Bhatt biography for more on his co-star.
He then cemented his place in commercial cinema with a string of hits: the rom-coms Main Tera Hero (2014), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017); the action comedies Dilwale (2015), Dishoom (2016) and Judwaa 2 (2017); and the dance film ABCD 2 (2015). He also played a small-town tailor in the social drama Sui Dhaaga (2018).
Critics, meanwhile, took notice of his serious side. His dark, vengeful turn in Badlapur (2015) and his restrained, moving performance in October (2018) earned him widespread praise. Between 2012 and 2018, he delivered 11 consecutive box-office hits — a rare feat that made him one of the most reliable stars of his generation.
In the following years, Varun appeared in Jugjugg Jeeyo, the creature comedy Bhediya (2022), the romantic drama Bawaal (2023), the web series Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024) and the action film Baby John (2024). For more Bollywood movie coverage, check out our post on the Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari movie.
His career reached new heights with Border 2 (2026), released on 23 January 2026. Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by T-Series & JP Films, the war epic stars Varun as Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya alongside Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. The film became the biggest hit of his career. See our Diljit Dosanjh biography for more on his co-star.
Personal Life
Varun Dhawan married his longtime partner, designer Natasha Dalal, in January 2021. The couple welcomed their daughter in June 2024. He has been listed on the Forbes Celebrity 100 and is counted among India's highest-paid actors. In other Bollywood news, read about Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra expecting second child.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official trailer of Border 2, featuring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, on the T-Series YouTube channel:
FAQ
When was Varun Dhawan born? Varun Dhawan was born on 24 April 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He is 39 years old as of October 2026.
What was his debut film? His acting debut was Student of the Year (2012), in which he starred alongside Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. Before that, he had worked as an assistant director on My Name Is Khan (2010).
What is his biggest hit? Border 2, released on 23 January 2026, is the biggest hit of his career. He plays Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya in the Anurag Singh-directed war epic.
Is Varun Dhawan married? Yes, he married designer Natasha Dalal in January 2021, and the couple has a daughter born in June 2024.
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