'Border 2': Shashank Khaitan hails Varun Dhawan's performance; addresses his 'tedhi smile,' saying, 'You might have…'

Varun Dhawan is basking in the success of his latest release, 'Border 2'. The actor was criticized for his smile before the movie hit the theaters. And now, his frequent collaborator, filmmaker Shashank Khaitan, has reacted to the "tedhi-smile" comment. Let's take a look at what he has to say.

Shashank Khaitan hails Varun Dhawan's performance in 'Border 2'

Varun Dhawan took to his Instagram to repost the IG Story of Shashank Khaitan's praise for him. In his post, the filmmaker had written, "You might have a ‘tedhi smile,’ but you have the cleanest heart and sincere eyes. And all of that is in full display in 'Border 2'. Such a good, solid, and sincere performance. Love you, my brother. Congrats on this blockbuster and many more to come."




The actor shared it on his Instagram Story without adding any caption to it. Take a look.

The "tedhi smile" comment was in reference to the backlash Varun Dhawan had faced after the trailer of the movie was released. A section of people expressed that the actor was not fit for the role. The actor's smile was discussed online.

Varun reacted to the trolling by sharing a picture of himself on his car, with him waving the national flag. He wrote, "Border 2. Love will always triumph hate. Thank you."

More about 'Border 2'

Directed by Anurag Singh, the film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. The movie also features Mona Singh, Anya Singh, Sonam Bajwa, and Medha Rana in pivotal roles. At the box office, the movie has already crossed the Rs 200 crore mark in India in just five days of its release.

For those unaware, the war drama is a spiritual sequel to JP Dutta's iconic 1997 film 'Border'. The movie was released in theaters on January 23, 2026.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”