Every actor has at least one film they regret turning down, and for Varun Dhawan, that film appears to be Andhadhun. The actor recently revealed that he was originally considered for the lead role in the critically acclaimed thriller but had to pass on the project due to prior commitments.
Today, Andhadhun is regarded as one of the finest Hindi films of the last decade, earning widespread praise from critics, winning multiple National Awards, and becoming a massive box-office success. Looking back, Varun admitted that it was a missed opportunity.
During a conversation with comedian and content creator Tanmay Bhatt on YouTube, Varun was asked whether there was any film he had rejected that later turned into a major hit. Without hesitation, the actor named Andhadhun.
“I think I said no to a good film, which became a very good film, Andhadhun. But I was filming for something else, so I couldn’t do it. The original cast of the film was supposed to be me and Kangana Ranaut,” Varun revealed.
The statement surprised many fans, as most people associate the film with Ayushmann Khurrana, whose performance as the mysterious pianist Akash became one of the highlights of his career.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, Andhadhun was released in 2018 and featured Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte and Anil Dhawan in pivotal roles. The story revolved around a pianist who pretends to be blind and accidentally becomes entangled in a murder mystery filled with deception, suspense and dark humour.
Inspired by the French short film The Piano Tuner, the movie kept audiences guessing until its final scene and became famous for its unpredictable twists and open-ended conclusion.
The film’s success was remarkable. Produced on a modest budget of around ₹17 crore, Andhadhun went on to collect more than ₹440 crore worldwide, making it one of the most profitable Hindi films of its time. It also won three National Film Awards, including Best Hindi Film and Best Actor for Ayushmann Khurrana.
Following Varun’s revelation, social media users quickly began imagining what the film would have looked like with him and Kangana Ranaut in the lead roles.
While some fans felt Varun could have brought a fresh energy to the character, others argued that Ayushmann Khurrana was perfectly cast and that it is difficult to imagine anyone else in the role today. Several users also pointed out that Tabu’s performance as the film’s manipulative and mysterious character became one of the biggest reasons behind its success.
Although Varun missed out on Andhadhun, the actor has built a successful career with films such as Badlapur, October, Bhediya, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and JugJugg Jeeyo. Over the years, he has balanced commercial entertainers with performance-driven roles, establishing himself as one of Bollywood’s most popular stars.
Currently, Varun is seen in his father David Dhawan’s comedy entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, co-starring Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde. While the film has received mixed reactions from audiences and critics, it has managed to generate considerable buzz.
Looking ahead, Varun will return as the beloved werewolf Bhaskar in Bhediya 2, one of the most anticipated films in Maddock Films’ horror-comedy universe.
As for Andhadhun, it remains one of Bollywood’s biggest “what if” stories. While fans may never know how the film would have turned out with Varun Dhawan and Kangana Ranaut in the lead roles, the actor’s candid admission has certainly reignited curiosity about an alternate version of the blockbuster thriller.
