Mumbai, February 12 Actor Varun Dhawan said on Thursday that online trolling does not bother him much, as he had the support of his family and well-wishers, including Salman Khan.
Dhawan faced intense online criticism for his appearance in "Border 2", the recently-released war drama, which has become a blockbuster, earning over ₹300 crore since its release on January 23.
After the film's song “Ghar Kab Aaoge” was released, a section of social media users criticised Dhawan’s expressions in the track, with some questioning his performance and arguing that he does not fit the role of a soldier.
At the success press conference of "Border 2", Dhawan was asked about the trolling he faced.
"Trolling happens to everyone. It has become a common thing. Some people can take it in their stride, while others cannot. Fortunately, I could. I never took it seriously. I took it at face value. Fortunately, I had family support," Dhawan said during the film's success press conference.
The actor recalled that during the shoot of a pivotal war sequence in the film, his father, filmmaker David Dhawan, was rushed to hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit after a health scare.
"Obviously, the team was aware of it, so I took a flight and went back home. I went to the ICU and saw my father. He said, 'How can you come back? Your shooting is going on.' I told him, 'I am not going back, I will stay here.'
"And my father said, 'No, we make films and entertain people. There is a lot of money involved. You will go back tomorrow morning and make it for your call time.' In life, such things happen. You face so many things, then what is trolling? It's nothing. So all this doesn't make a difference to me," he said.
The actor said he was trolled for his crooked smile in the movie, which was something that he first created for his 2017 movie "Badrinath Ki Dulhania".
"The thing I got trolled for is something that I did in 'Badrinath ki Dulhania'. It was that crooked smile, so they (trolls) are copying me. I was like, 'It's okay if it helps you.' But it doesn't make a difference as it was a serious character. My next movie is a comedy, and I guarantee that I will use it in comedy. Why should I let it go?"
Dhawan also revealed that when he was being trolled, superstar Salman Khan called him.
"When these things (trolling) happen, the people who stand with you are very important. During that time, I got a call from Salman Bhai at night. He was laughing and said, 'Good things are about to come.' And his advice and his belief meant a lot to me.
"When 'Border 2' released and did so well, he called me again and he said, 'I'm so happy for all of you.' And something he said, which stays very close to my heart... it was 2 am in the night and I jumped on my bed. He said, 'I am proud of you, Beta.'"
Calling it a "defining moment", Dhawan said the compliment meant a great deal because Khan does not praise people easily.
"But what he said gave me a lot of confidence. And at the end of the day, I believed in the film and believed in god," he said.
"Border 2" also features Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty with Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana starring in pivotal roles.
