In the high-stakes world of Bollywood, success often comes with a side of intense scrutiny. For Varun Dhawan, the journey toward the massive success of Border 2 was initially clouded by a wave of online negativity. However, the actor recently revealed that during his lowest moments, he had a formidable ally in his corner: Salman Khan.
Speaking at a recent success press conference for the war drama, which has now crossed the ₹300 crore mark, Varun shared heartwarming details about how the “Bhai” of Bollywood reached out to him when the internet was at its harshest.
The “Smile” That Went Viral for the Wrong Reasons
Before the film’s release on January 23, 2026, Varun found himself at the center of a meme fest. Following the trailer launch and the release of the emotional track “Ghar Kab Aaoge”, trolls targeted the actor’s expressions—specifically his “crooked smile.”
Critics on social media questioned whether the Bhediya star could pull off the gravitas required for a war epic. Varun, however, remained unfazed, later noting that the specific smile was a character trait he had carried over from his 2017 hit Badrinath Ki Dulhania.
“Trolling has become a fashion. Some people take it to heart, but I chose to take it at face value,” Varun told reporters.
A Midnight Reassurance
The most defining moment of this phase didn’t happen on a film set, but via a late-night phone call. Varun revealed that Salman Khan called him in the middle of the night while the trolling was at its peak.
Salman wasn’t worried; in fact, he was laughing. Salman told him, “Good things are about to come.” Varun shared that Salman’s belief in him provided a much-needed shield against the digital noise. “His advice and belief meant a lot to me,” Varun added.
“I’m Proud of You, Beta”
The support didn’t stop once the film became a blockbuster. After Border 2 opened to rave reviews and soaring box office numbers, Salman called again—this time at 2:00 AM.
“He called and said he was so happy for all of us,” Varun recalled, visibly emotional. “Then he said something that stays very close to my heart. He said, ‘I am proud of you, beta.’ It was 2 in the morning, and I literally stood up on my bed. Salman bhai doesn’t praise people easily, so that gave me immense confidence.”
Success Beyond the Noise
While the internet was busy making memes, Varun was focused on portraying Army officer Hoshiar Singh Dahiya with honesty. He credited his resilience to the support of his family, his wife Natasha Dalal, and industry seniors like Sunny Deol and Salman Khan.
As Border 2 continues its historic run in theaters, Varun’s “crooked smile” has transitioned from a meme to a mark of a performer who can handle both the heat of battle and the heat of social media. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you
