Bollywood star Varun Dhawan is embracing the larger-than-life cinema fashion of South India together with his upcoming Christmas launch “Child John,” a movie that had him learning the long-lasting mannerisms of famous person Rajinikanth in preparation for his position.

Talking with Selection forward of the movie’s December 25 launch, Dhawan explains his attraction to the challenge, which marks a major departure from his earlier work. “I wished to do one thing bigger than life. I wished to be that macho hero. I wished to precise my feelings in a sure approach, which I assume I used to be not getting these alternatives right here [in Bollywood], or these movies usually are not being made right here,” says Dhawan.

Directed by Kalees (“Kee”), “Child John” represents a major collaboration between Hindi and South Indian cinema, introduced by Jio Studios and Atlee, and produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, and Jyoti Deshpande. The movie is a manufacturing of A for Apple Studios and Cine1 Studios in affiliation with Atlee and Cine 1 Studios. The action-drama sees Dhawan following within the footsteps of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who ventured into bigger than life South Indian fashion cinema with Atlee’s “Jawan.”

The actor’s preparation course of concerned an intensive examine of South Indian cinema’s mass enchantment moments. “I used to be proven a video compilation of [Indian superstar] Rajinikanth-sir and all of the completely different antics that he does, the mass moments he does,” Dhawan reveals. “Then I used to be proven a video parallelly of all of the actors from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi cinema, the place they have been doing what Rajinikanth-sir has executed, and it was very fascinating to appreciate that he has executed so many issues, that all the pieces that individuals do often are issues that he’s executed.”

Drawing parallels to traditional Hindi cinema, Dhawan cites the 1991 Amitabh Bachchan starrer “Hum” as a key inspiration. “In my childhood, I cherished this movie known as ‘Hum’ by Mukul Anand, which has Amitabh Bachchan, the place he performs virtually a double position, twin id sort of character,” he explains. “‘Child John’ has comparable themes. It additionally has one other theme of safety of ladies on this nation and the way it’s executed. And there’s an answer additionally for it, which is sweet parenting versus dangerous parenting. It’s virtually like an Indian Thali [platter], which has each completely different cultural delicacies.”

The transition to South Indian filmmaking fashion proved difficult for the actor. “It was very, very tough. I feel one of many harder performing assignments I’ve had shortly,” Dhawan admits. “Once I did [Prime Video action series] ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny‘ with [directors] Raj and DK, it felt like a bit of cake really, as a result of that was very otherwise engineered.” He emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the manufacturing: “No capturing day felt straightforward ever. There was no gentle capturing day. All the things felt heavy. All the things felt large.”

The movie’s motion sequences, choreographed by “Citadel: Honey Bunny” motion director Yannick Ben, promise to ship spectacular set items. “There’s an enormous interval block, pre-interval block, which is within the rain, which he’s executed, which is a standout for me,” Dhawan shares. “The motion in ‘Child John’ is a monster in itself.”

Among the many manufacturing highlights, Dhawan notably loved working together with his younger co-star. “Capturing with a small youngster Zara, I feel that was a really joyous second,” he recollects. “Simply doing scenes along with her was very fulfilling, enjoyable, spontaneous, very new. As a result of as a toddler, each take of hers was completely different.”

Reflecting on the altering panorama of Indian cinema in 2024, Dhawan underlines the evolving viewers expectations. “You’ll be able to’t give them something mediocre,” he observes. This understanding has influenced his current challenge selections, together with “Jug Jug Jeeyo,” “Bhediya,” and the upcoming “Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.”

Trying forward, Dhawan’s slate is full of various initiatives. Comedy “Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai,” directed by his father David Dhawan, co-stars Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde. In January he begins the primary schedule of battle movie sequel “Border 2.” And by the tip of 2025 he’ll start Anees Bazmee’s comedy sequel “No Entry 2.”