I have been to Kolkata so many times but have never really seen Kolkata. At least today, we get to chat with you sitting here, feeling the vibe of the city, I am loving it!” That’s what Varun Dhawan tells me as we settle into our seats. We are at the iconic Flurys at Park Street — truly a Kolkata emblem, if there was any — a little before noon on Tuesday. Joining us at the famous Flurys table by the window is the gorgeous Kiara Advani, sunny in a yellow jumpsuit. The good-looking duo, who have an easy buddy vibe, were in the city as their latest pitstop to promote their big Friday releaseJugJugg Jeeyo .
As the crowd swelled both inside and outside, with everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of the young stars, we sipped on coffee and dug into Rum Balls and Strawberry Cubes, and chatted about the film that also stars Anil Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, the Varun-Kiara equation and more. The Flurys date was preceded by Varun and Kiara posing exclusively for The Telegraph at another city landmark, Victoria Memorial.
So is this the most you have seen of Kolkata ever?
Varun Dhawan: Yeah, the most ever! I think I will catch a yellow taxi and go back to the hotel now! (Laughs)
Varun, you aren’t dressed for this weather. You can’t wear a denim jacket in a sweltering yellow cab!
Varun: I know! I will remove my jacket....
Kiara Advani: And I am actually matching the yellow taxi! (Pointing to her yellow jumpsuit). I am a Kolkatan today (laughs).
You guys have been all over social media over the last few weeks. Have you now spent more time together promoting JugJugg Jeeyo than actually making it?
Varun: (Laughs) We actually shot the film for a very long time. We shot it during the pandemic and since we were in a bubble, we automatically got to spend a lot of time with each other. Kiara would say, ‘Okay, while making this movie, we will have fun! We will party!’ There was Anil sir’s (Kapoor) birthday, there was Christmas... and every day she would sleep at 10pm! (Both laugh) Anil sir and Neetu ma’am had more energy than Kiara.
Kiara: After work, I only want to sleep (smiles).
Varun: She’ll be like, ‘No, no I am tired!’ (Mimicks Kiara yawning)
Kiara: I am an old soul!
Varun: You know, she keeps mothering me. If we are getting into a plane and the wing is overhead, she will tell me to be careful and not hit my head. She looks after me, she teaches me things... I learn a lot from her.
So, Kiara is a little short of saying ‘jug jugg jeeyo’ to you!
Varun: Very true!
Kiara: We are both very caring towards each other (smiles). And we want each other to grow and become better people.
Are you now better friends than before?
Kiara: For sure! We are much closer now. We have gone through so many roadblocks while making this film that we have only become closer.
Varun: I will say that we are friends now for sure.
Kiara: You better say we are friends! (Laughs)
Varun: When we started shooting, we asked each other who our favourite co-stars are...
Kiara: And he keeps pulling my leg because I didn’t take his name!
Varun: She said Vicky (Kaushal) is her favourite...
Kiara: I was just teasing him!
Varun: Now every six months I ask her who her favourite is...
Kiara: Varun has always been someone I have wanted to work with...
BIG YELLOW TAXI: Varun and Kiara hopped into a Kolkata cab for a quick drive to Park Street
You did do that song in Kalank together...
Kiara: Ya! And I only did it because he asked me, ‘Will you do this song?’ I said, ‘Ya chalo!’ I didn’t even hear the script...
Varun: Very sweet!
Kiara: He asked me if I could give four-five days, and I said of course I would...
Varun: She actually ended up giving more than that...
Kiara: Ya eventually I gave some seven-eight days because it turned into a cameo of sorts. And I did it only because he asked me, and that shows the kind of friendship that we share. I know that if I call him, he will most definitely be there for me. With JugJugg Jeeyo, people will see our pairing for the first time and I feel so happy that this is the film we are doing together. That’s because we always wanted to do a film together which would give us scope to perform and though there is a lot of romance in the film, it’s layered because they (Kukoo and Naina, played by Varun and Kiara) are a couple going through a big turmoil in their marriage. That really gave us scope to sink our teeth into something that will hopefully make us come out as mature performers.
Varun: When Kiara came in to films, I had already started working and doing decently well. I noticed this girl (looks at Kiara) in this film called Fugly. Mohit (Marwah) was in it, who I know pretty well. Kiara is very attractive, and that’s the first thing you notice about her. I was like, ‘Okay, this very beautiful girl has debuted’, and that was it.
After that, she did a film called Machine which had an event I was supposed to do. But I didn’t do it. In fact, I told the marketing team that the actors in the film should do that event. She did it, and through the media, she thanked me. So initially, we were only talking through the media
Kiara: We didn’t know each other personally, but whenever we would talk through the media, there was a sense of genuine fondness...
Varun: And wanting to collaborate at some point.... And then Karan (Johar) would keep telling me things like, ‘Kiara is here for tea’ or ‘Kiara is playing with the kids’.... I had always told Karan that I wanted to work with this girl, and Karan being Karan would fool around with me saying these things! (Laughs)
Then we did Kalank. And I was like, ‘I have to do a movie with this girl... she is damn good!’ When we did that song (First class), I noticed that apart from being a great dancer, Kiara expressed so well with her eyes. She has a huge connect with the audience and now she’s become such a massive star!
NOM NOM: Bringing the crowd to a halt at Flurys
Kiara, congratulations for the huge success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2....
Kiara: Thank you! (Smiles)
Varun: It’s massive, massive! I think she and Kartik (Aaryan) really rocked that film. The success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa has given the whole industry a lot of energy....
I feel the happy, fresh, energetic vibe of JugJugg Jeeyo will draw audiences to theatres....
Varun: You think so, na? Even we feel so. The timing is correct.
The songs have caught on... we are doing the Nach Punjaban step everywhere! (Laughs) This film really drew me with its story. It’s such a cool story that’s set up for a comic relationship film. We have a nice mix of actors like Anil sir, Neetu ma’am, Maniesh Paul, Prajakta (Koli)...
Kiara: I think Raj (Mehta, director) has written every character so well. It all comes together so perfectly. It’s a very new-age commercial entertainer. It gives a fresh perspective on marriage, on divorce, on relationships and on life.... Everyone said ‘yes’ to the film purely based on the script.
Varun: Kolkata always likes good films. Even October was received so well here, Kolkata drove the business of that film for weeks. It ran for five-six weeks here.
Kiara: Varun, you know Nandan cinema here was one of the first in the country to screen world cinema.... The film festival happens there...
Varun: Oh, is it? We must go there. Every time I come here, I realise why Shoojitda (Sircar, who directed Varun in October) doesn’t want to shift to Bombay. He keeps telling me, ‘Tu aaja idhar, kuch din reh le... phir tujhko fix karke main bhejta hoon wapas!’ (Laughs)
Kiara, did you ask Varun who his favourite co-star is since he keeps badgering you with that question?
Kiara: Ya, Varun... why don’t you tell us?
Varun: It’s definitely her right now!
Kiara: Right now?! (Rolls her eyes and laughs)
SUGAR RUSH: Happy faces after some sweet treats at Flurys
Coming back to your film, Neetu Kapoor is experiencing a resurgence in her career. What were your biggest learnings from working with her?
Varun: It’s so amazing how she has come back on set after losing Rishi sir (Kapoor). It’s an amazing story. One always feels that one is going through so much, but then you hear so many stories of others braving so much more. She’s done so well in the film. There is a scene by the lake with her and Kiara... it’s my favourite scene... and they speak about marriage and relationship, it’s beautiful. I really got emotional watching that scene.
Is Anil Kapoor still the youngest man on set?
Kiara: Of course! The energy that he has... my God!
Varun: No one can compete with him...
Even when he is about to become a grandad soon?
Varun: He doesn’t like to be called ‘Papa’, but he’s fine with being called ‘Nana’. He’s accepted that! (Laughs) He’s always the best!
Kiara: Promotions are so hectic and taxing, but when you see him jumping with that kind of energy and enthusiasm on stage, you know he is truly a star.
Finally, since this is a film about marriage and since Varun is the married one here, what’s the best thing about marriage and the not-so-happy bit?
Varun: The best thing is that you always have each others’ backs. It’s wonderful to know that there is someone who is always there for you and understands you. The not-so-happy bit is that I have to put the lights off, and even put my iPad away, when Natasha is sleepy. I am always on my iPad, and then when she wants to sleep, I have to lower the volume and put on my Airpods...
Small sacrifice to make...
Varun: Ya, ya! Very small, very small!
Kiara: He married his childhood sweetheart with whom he has such a great friendship. What can get better than that?
Varun: I truly feel blessed (smiles).
Pictures: B. Halder