Actor Varun Dhawan has addressed the wave of trolling he has been facing ahead of the release of his upcoming film Border 2, making it clear that the online noise does not affect him. Speaking at the Braves Of The Soil tribute trailer launch for Border 2, Varun responded calmly and confidently, stating that criticism and memes are part of the industry and that his focus remains firmly on making good films.
The actor has been under scrutiny ever since the song Ghar Kab Aaoge from Border 2 was released. A section of social media users began trolling Varun over his performance in the song, particularly targeting his facial expressions and smile. What started as criticism soon turned into memes, sparking widespread online chatter about his casting and portrayal in the film.
In a video shared by a fan on X (formerly Twitter), Varun was asked directly about the “noise” surrounding his involvement in Border 2. Responding candidly, he said that he believes in tuning out distractions and letting his work speak for itself. “I believe that you shut down the noise and just let your work do the talking. Yeh sab cheezein chalti rehti hai. It doesn’t really matter,” Varun said, adding that such reactions are inevitable in public life.
He further clarified that he does not work for online validation or trends. “Main iske liye kaam karta hoon. Main jis cheeze ke liye kaam karta hoon woh iss Friday ko pata chalega,” he said, indicating that audiences will judge his work once the film releases in theatres. According to Varun, the real test of an actor’s effort lies on the big screen, not on social media timelines.
Varun Dhawan responds to trolls targeting his role in Border 2.
The actor says feedback is welcome, but asks audiences to watch the film before judging.#VarunDhawan #Border2 #BollywoodTrolls #FilmTwitter #IndianCinema pic.twitter.com/GH5MDEReAe— Thegossipgully.com (@thegossipgully) January 20, 2026
Varun went on to emphasise that for him, the most important thing is the quality of the film. “Mujhe film pe bharosa hai. Ek achi film banana bohot important hai,” he said, expressing strong faith in Border 2. He also made it clear that box office numbers are not what drive him. “Obviously, numbers yeh sab cheezein mera kuch lena dena nahi hai isse. But I believe ki humne ek achi film banayi hai,” he added.
Sharing his belief in the theatrical experience, Varun said that once audiences step into cinemas, everything else fades into the background. “Log jab theatre mein jaate hai, sab bhool jaate hai. They want to be entertained, that’s it,” he said. He concluded by stating that he comes from a school of thought where work speaks louder than opinions. “Main use school se aata hoon jahan aapka kaam bolta hai,” he remarked.
Amid the criticism, Varun also received strong support from Suniel Shetty, who was part of the original 1997 blockbuster Border. Speaking to Bombay Times, Suniel addressed the trolling surrounding Varun’s performance after the release of Ghar Kab Aaoge. He questioned the basis of the criticism, pointing out that no one has actually seen the film yet. “Has anybody seen the film (Border 2)? Nobody has seen the film. We’ve only seen glimpses,” Suniel said.
Backing Varun wholeheartedly, Suniel added, “Varun Dhawan will kill it in the film — he’s outstanding.” He further urged people to be more thoughtful before passing judgments online. “Varun is not playing himself; he is playing a decorated officer who has given his life for the country. I think we should think a little before going out there and saying these things,” he said. Suniel also highlighted how easy it has become to target actors on social media. “Today, it’s very easy to trash someone and run them down,” he added.
Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is the sequel to J P Dutta’s iconic 1997 war film Border. The film is set against the backdrop of the India–Pakistan war of 1971 and aims to honour the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers. The ensemble cast includes Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, Medha Rana, and Mona Singh, alongside Varun Dhawan.
Scheduled for a theatrical release on January 23, Border 2 carries high expectations, both because of its legacy and its star-studded cast. As the release date approaches, Varun Dhawan remains unfazed by the online chatter, choosing instead to place his trust in the film and the audience—confident that once the lights go down in theatres, the work will speak for itself.
