Source: Hindustan Times
Date: September 25, 2012

Debutant Varun Dhawan believes Roshan is a star in the true sense

Back in 2000, when Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai released, a 12year-old kid went to watch Hrithik Roshan’s debut flick excitedly with his group of friends at Chandan theatre in Juhu. Twelve years later, the same kid is eagerly awaiting the release of his own debut venture, Student Of The Year. But Varun Dhawan, filmmaker David Dhawan’s son, says that he is still in awe of Hrithik.

“I remember watching Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai with my friends in school. Right from his first film, I have been impressed with Hrithik. Although I was very young, he left a lasting impression on my mind. He changed the entire concept of the Hindi film ‘hero.’ Before him, a Bollywood hero was put in a particular slot, but he came in and showed what a hero can be like,” says the 24-year-old.

In fact, Varun says that Hrithik’s debut put more pressure on him. “I remember telling myself, ‘If you want to be in Bollywood, yeh sab karna padega (all these things have to be done).’ So for me, he will always be a great source of inspiration,” says the actor.

Ask Varun if he has met Hrithik yet and he says, “Yes, I met him for the first time with Karan (director Johar) and I was completely speechless. I just couldn’t say anything because I kept staring at him. When I met him for the second time, things were a little better. He wished me luck with my film and also talked a bit about dancing and fitness,” he says with a smile.