Varun Dhawan recalls how Karan Johar launched him after his stint as an AD on ‘My Name Is Khan’: 'I told my mother that...'

Varun Dhawan recently looked back at the journey that led to his entry into Bollywood. The actor revealed how working as an assistant director helped him learn the craft before facing the camera. The 'Border 2' actor shared the story during an appearance on the popular comedy show 'The Great Indian Kapil Show.' During the conversation, Dhawan explained how filmmaker Karan Johar eventually launched him in the 2012 film 'Student of the Year,' which also introduced Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra to Bollywood.

Assisting Karan Johar on 'My Name Is Khan'

Varun Dhawan wanted to understand filmmaking from behind the scenes before becoming an actor. So he decided to work as an assistant director. He joined the team of 'My Name Is Khan,' which Karan Johar directed and starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles.






Recalling that phase, Varun Dhawan said, "I told my mother that I wanted to assist Karan Johar. I went and met him and eventually began assisting him." The experience gave him the opportunity to observe filmmaking closely and helped him learn about the technical and creative aspects of cinema.

David Dhawan recalls Varun Dhawan's dedication

Veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, Varun’s father, also spoke about that period during the show. He remembered how seriously his son approached the work.




David Dhawan revealed that Varun was focused on learning the craft and said the young filmmaker carried out every task given to him with sincerity. Speaking about the time, he shared, "He assisted Karan Johar on My Name Is Khan. Whatever work he was given, he did it sincerely. I was very busy at that time." According to him, Varun remained dedicated to the learning process and did not take shortcuts while working behind the camera.

The photoshoot that changed everything

The turning point in Varun’s career arrived when Karan Johar approached the family with a new film idea. The filmmaker had already started thinking about launching a new generation of actors. David Dhawan recalled that Karan Johar conducted a photoshoot featuring Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt. The pictures later played an important role in shaping the project.


Sharing the memory, David said, "One day Karan said that next time he would come with photographs. He did a photoshoot with Siddharth and Varun, and Alia was also there. He showed the photos and said, 'This is the pair. I am going to produce and direct the film.'" The project eventually became 'Student of the Year'.

More about 'Student Of The Year'

Released in 2012, 'Student of the Year' marked the Bollywood debut of Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The film was directed and produced by Karan Johar. The coming-of-age drama quickly gained popularity among younger audiences and became a superhit. Varun Dhawan was last seen in 'Border 2,' which received decent reviews.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”