Chunky Panday says Varun Dhawan reminds him of old-school stars: ‘There's lot of Govinda and Salman Khan in him' - Exclusive

With just days left for the release of 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' on June 4, actor Chunky Panday is gearing up to entertain audiences with a quirky and chaotic character in the David Dhawan directorial. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, the veteran actor opened up about his role in the comedy, working with Varun Dhawan, and why the young star reminds him of some of Bollywood's biggest entertainers.

Chunky Panday speaks about his character in 'Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'

Speaking about his character, Chunky revealed that he plays a rather eccentric doctor who finds himself in the middle of complete madness.



"I play this crazy Dr. Gulati kind of character. He's an action-minded doctor and a little crazy too. You'll have to watch the film to know more," he said with a laugh.

Giving a glimpse into the film's plot, Chunky added, "My character enters at a point when there's absolute chaos. As seen in the trailer, two women are admitted to the hospital after the character played by Varun Dhawan ends up impregnating both of them. I'm the doctor who has to handle this entire situation."

Chunky Panday praises Varun Dhawan

The actor also had high praise for Varun Dhawan and the younger generation of actors. According to Chunky, today's stars are far more prepared and informed than actors of his generation were at the same age.

"Working with the younger generation is so much fun. They are far more prepared and knowledgeable than we were at their age. There's so much to learn from them. It was an absolute pleasure working with Varun," he said.

Chunky went on to describe Varun as a rare performer who not only focuses on his own scenes but also elevates the performances of those around him.

"He's a very hands-on actor. He reminds me of a lot of old-school actors. He's very good at improvisation. In the old days, we always wanted everyone around us to perform well because it made the scene better. Varun is one of those actors who goes out of his way to enhance other people's performances as well. I really admire that quality."

Chunky Panday compares Varun Dhawan to Govinda and Salman Khan

Interestingly, Chunky also drew comparisons between Varun and two of Bollywood's most beloved entertainers namely, Govinda and Salman Khan.

"Maybe it's because of his father's influence and growing up watching his films, but there's a lot of Govinda in him. There's a lot of Salman in him too. He has those qualities. But having said that, he's Varun Dhawan. He's created his own identity and his own mark. He's brilliant at what he does, and there are some things only he can do."

Talking about the unique charm of David Dhawan's comedy universe, Chunky admitted that while the situations in his films may seem unbelievable, it takes exceptional performers to make audiences buy into that world.

"David Dhawan's films exist in a very unbelievable world. But to make that world believable, you have to be a very good performer," he concluded.

'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' releases in cinemas on June 4 and promises a laughter-filled ride packed with confusion, chaos and classic David Dhawan-style entertainment.