Director Sriram Raghavan, known for redefining noir thrillers in Bollywood, recently revealed in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla that Varun Dhawan was not his original choice for the lead in the 2015 psychological thriller Badlapur. In fact, the filmmaker had envisioned veteran actors like Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the intense, layered role.
Speaking candidly about the casting process, Raghavan said, “I had the basic subject of Badlapur, and I narrated it to Sanjay and my brother Shridhar Raghavan. Both warned me against it, saying it’s too dark. I was thinking of serious actors like Irrfan.”
Despite the initial skepticism, a conversation with producer Dinesh Vijan changed everything. Raghavan shared the script with Vijan, who encouraged him to move forward with the story—on the condition that he wouldn’t compromise its gritty tone. When asked about his casting ideas, the director admitted that Saif Ali Khan had been a consideration, but past box office setbacks ruled him out.
That’s when Vijan proposed a bold alternative: cast someone younger—specifically, Varun Dhawan.
“At first, I hadn’t thought of Varun at all,” Raghavan admitted. “But then I remembered my brother got married at 21. Young people go through romance and tragedy too. So, I thought, it’s not a bad idea.”
In a twist of fate, Varun happened to call Dinesh Vijan on the very same day the director shared the story. The three met, and Raghavan narrated the film’s premise. Varun connected with the script and asked the director if he truly believed he could do justice to such a serious role. Raghavan’s response? “If you like it, you can do it.”
That impromptu meeting set the wheels in motion, and Varun Dhawan was officially on board. The rest, as they say, is cinematic history. Badlapur not only marked a turning point in Dhawan’s career—showcasing his darker, more nuanced side—but also earned critical acclaim and commercial success.
Interestingly, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who played the antagonist Liak in the film, had already been on Raghavan’s mind during the writing process, making his inclusion a perfect fit.
This behind-the-scenes story adds a fascinating layer to the making of one of Bollywood’s most gripping revenge dramas.