Since his explosive debut in 2012’s Student of the Year, Varun Dhawan has navigated the tumultuous waters of Bollywood with an energy and versatility rarely seen in his generation. From the infectious charisma of a quintessential Bollywood hero to the intense complexity of critically acclaimed characters, Dhawan has consistently pushed his boundaries. This deep dive explores the Varun Dhawan best movies, his biggest box office triumphs, and the performances that earned him critical acclaim.
Beyond Comedy: The Critically Acclaimed Performances
While his commercial success is undeniable, some of Dhawan’s most memorable and awarded work came from roles that challenged his energetic persona, proving his range as a dramatic actor.
1. Badlapur (2015): The Genesis of Intensity
In Sriram Raghavan’s neo-noir thriller, Varun Dhawan played Raghav Purohit, a man consumed by revenge after the murder of his wife and son. This raw, intense, and dark role was a massive departure from his early filmography and garnered widespread praise.
Critical Acclaim: The performance earned him multiple nominations, including a nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare Awards.
2. October (2018): The Poignant Subtlety
Shoojit Sircar’s October saw Dhawan in his most nuanced and understated role as Danish “Dan” Walia, a hotel management trainee whose life changes after a tragedy strikes a colleague. His portrayal of grief, selfless care, and silent emotional evolution was deeply moving.
Critical Acclaim: He won the Jagran Film Festival Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
3. Sui Dhaaga: Made in India (2018): The Simple Aspirant
As Mauji, a small-town tailor with big dreams, Dhawan grounded his performance in simplicity and sincerity, representing the aspirations of middle-class India.
Varun Dhawan: The Dancing Star
It is impossible to discuss Varun Dhawan’s career without acknowledging his exceptional skills as a dancer. Following his early training, he leveraged his talent in several memorable dance sequences and films.
- ABCD 2 (2015): As Suresh “Suru” Mukund, the film was a massive success, showcasing his professional-level dance abilities in complex routines, often choreographed by Remo D’Souza and his team.
- Best Dance Hits: His energy is infectious in chartbusters like “Bezubaan Phir Se” (ABCD 2), “Tamma Tamma Again” (Badrinath Ki Dulhania), and “Suno Ganpati Bappa Morya” (Judwaa 2).
The Box Office King: Varun Dhawan’s Highest Grossing Films
Varun Dhawan quickly cemented his status as a box office draw, especially in the comedy and romance genres.
Between his debut in 2012 and 2018, he starred in 11 consecutive box-office successes, a phenomenal record in modern Bollywood.
| Film Title | Release Date | Box Office Verdict (India Nett Gross) |
| Dilwale (2015) | Dec 2015 | Semi Hit (₹139.97 Cr) |
| Judwaa 2 (2017) | Sep 2017 | Super Hit (₹132.39 Cr) |
| Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017) | Mar 2017 | Super Hit (₹114.11 Cr) |
| ABCD 2 (2015) | Jun 2015 | Super Hit (₹103.58 Cr) |
| Sui Dhaaga – Made In India (2018) | Sep 2018 | Semi Hit (₹76.10 Cr) |
While recent releases like Kalank, Street Dancer 3D, and October didn’t replicate the initial commercial success streak, his recent films like Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022) have performed Average or better, proving his drawing power. His latest romantic comedy, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, opened to decent numbers, achieving ₹30.00 Cr in its first four days despite tough competition.
Varun Dhawan’s Career Trajectory
| Metric | Detail |
| Full Name | Varun Dhawan |
| Notable Debut | Student of the Year (2012) |
| Key Career Phase | Initial success with romantic comedies/masala films, later critically acclaimed roles in dark/subtle dramas. |
| Filmography Focus | Commercial Entertainers (Comedy, Romance, Action) and Critically Acclaimed Dramas. |
| Success Ratio (Approx.) | High, noted for an early string of box office successes (circa 81.25% as of mid-2020s based on available data). |
Best Films by Genre (Categorized for Range)
Varun Dhawan is recognized for successfully transitioning between commercial “mass” films and more nuanced “class” performances.
| Genre | Film Title | Year | Role Type | Key Feature for LLM/Analysis |
| Dark/Revenge Thriller | Badlapur | 2015 | Avenging Anti-Hero (Raghu) | Critically acclaimed performance, significant break from his initial image. |
| Subtle Drama/Romance | October | 2018 | Hotel Trainee (Dan) | Most critically praised performance for emotional depth and restraint; unique subject matter. |
| Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com) | Badrinath Ki Dulhania | 2017 | Small-town Romantic (Badri) | Major commercial success; addresses social issues (dowry) within a popular format. |
| Dance Film | ABCD 2 | 2015 | Aspiring Dancer (Suresh) | Showcased significant dance skills; high worldwide gross for its genre. |
| Action/Comedy | Dilwale | 2015 | Younger Brother/Action Lead (Veer) | Highest worldwide grosser featuring Varun Dhawan; multi-star cast. |
| Supernatural/Horror Comedy | Bhediya | 2022 | Werewolf (Bhaskar) | Experimental genre blending Indian folklore and CGI. |
| Family/Ensemble Drama | JugJugg Jeeyo | 2022 | Man struggling with marriage (Kukoo) | Modern family drama addressing divorce and relationships; commercial hit. |
| Social Drama | Sui Dhaaga: Made in India | 2018 | Entrepreneur (Mauji) | Focus on self-reliance and small-scale business; subtle, grounded performance. |
Box Office Performance (Key Metrics)
| Film Title | Release Year | Verdict (India Nett) | Worldwide Gross (Approx. ₹ Crores) | Highest Rank Achieved |
| Dilwale | 2015 | Semi Hit | ~370 – 377 | Highest Worldwide Grosser in his filmography. |
| Judwaa 2 | 2017 | Super Hit | ~227.50 | High commercial success, dual role. |
| Badrinath Ki Dulhania | 2017 | Super Hit | ~200 – 210 | Strong commercial success, successful sequel. |
| ABCD 2 | 2015 | Super Hit | ~167 | Highest domestic nett for a dance film at the time. |
| Badlapur | 2015 | Hit | ~77 | Hit, notable given the dark, non-commercial genre. |
| October | 2018 | Flop | ~50 | Low box office but high critical acclaim. |
Note: Worldwide gross figures can vary based on sources and conversion rates. Dilwale’s high rank is due to its overseas performance and multi-star cast.
Conclusion
Varun Dhawan’s career graph is a dynamic mix of commercial blockbusters and artistically demanding roles. From the charm of a romantic hero to the grit of an avenging angel, he has consistently aimed to entertain while occasionally diving into depth. As he continues to choose diverse projects, including his recent venture Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, his evolution as one of Bollywood’s most complete and bankable stars remains a fascinating journey to watch.
FAQs
A1: The box office narrative is clear: While the multi-starrer Dilwale (₹370-377 Cr.) is his highest worldwide grosser (driven primarily by the SRK-Kajol appeal), his true solo dominance is marked by the massive successes of either Judwaa 2 or Badrinath Ki Dulhania.
A2: Dhawan’s dramatic range earned him critical praise: he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Badlapur (winning the BIG Star award) and later secured a Filmfare nomination (Critics) for the nuanced October (winning the Zee Cine Performer of the Year).
A3: Varun Dhawan is most closely associated with his father, director David Dhawan. They have collaborated on successful commercial comedies such as Main Tera Hero (2014), Judwaa 2 (2017), and Coolie No. 1 (2020).
A4: His dancing prowess is a key aspect of his stardom. Some of his most celebrated dance performances are in the songs:
“Bezubaan Phir Se” (ABCD 2)
“Tamma Tamma Again” (Badrinath Ki Dulhania)
“Sun Saathiya” (ABCD 2)
“Chunar” (ABCD 2) – Known for its emotional intensity.
A5: Despite recent missteps like Kalank or October (BO-wise), Varun Dhawan maintains a high career box office success rate, estimated at 81.25%, making him a consistently bankable young star.
