Actor Varun Dhawan shared that his father, David Dhawan, did not direct his debut film because launching family members is not a tradition in their family.
Varun Dhawan, who made his debut with Karan Johar's 2012 film "Student of the Year," was at the launch event for his niece Anjini Dhawan’s first film, “Binny And Family.”
Though Anjini is his niece, Dhawan attended the event in a supportive, elder-brother capacity. He explained, "She is my niece but I am here as sort of an elder brother... It is a good film that is why I am here. Like my father never launched me because that tradition is not there in my family, he doesn’t believe in that. We have no hand in what she has done and it will be wrong for me to take credit for any of her success. Genuinely, she has done it on her own and I am very proud of her that she has done this journey.”
Directed by Ssanjay Tripaathy, “Binny And Family” is a family drama delving into the dynamics and intricacies of three generations, with Anjini starring in the lead role of Binny.
Dhawan expressed his hope that Anjini would receive the same love and recognition from audiences that he and his father have experienced over the years. He added, "It's an emotional day for me because my uncle Anil Dhawan is a big reason why I'm in the movies. No matter how much I speak, she's backed up this film... She was not cast because of me or my daddy.”
He also noted that the younger generation, including his niece, is aware of the challenges of the industry. "They know life is difficult. While I was growing up, everyone was telling me the life ahead won't be easy but this generation knows already and they are ready to work towards it. So, I think this generation is teaching us something,” he remarked.
Anjini shared her personal connection to her debut film, explaining, "I've had a very close relationship with my grandparents. They're way cooler and modern than my parents. I was really close to my Nana growing up. I lost him just a year before I heard the script. I was in a place where I was not doing so well emotionally. And Sanjay sir has written this story with all heart, honesty and a whole lot of emotion. And when I heard it for the first time, nothing felt so right. I felt like it was a sign... It's not the most common topic in films today. I felt it was sent to me from him and it just felt really right.”
Pankaj Kapoor, who plays Anjini’s grandfather in the film, was also present at the event. Kapoor, who is known for his deep bond with his own grandchildren, treated Anjini as his own during the filming. He said, “My grandchildren are currently very young but I am very attached to them and I know they are also very attached to me. This story is more about a slightly mature girl in her teens. The conflict becomes even more because when a girl is there and she's on her own, trying to reach a point in her life where she wants to be a person of her own kind. During the film, I remember probably looking upon her as my granddaughter and always doing the scenes where I felt very comfortable working with her. I was never judgmental about her... It was a wonderful experience for me.”
Produced by Mahaveer Jain Films & Wave Band Productions, “Binny And Family” is set to hit theaters on September 20.
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