In a fascinating look back at the evolution of film marketing, Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan recently shared an intriguing anecdote about his unconventional promotional tactics during the early days of his career. Speaking at a media event on May 14, 2026, the actor revisited the release of his 2015 dark thriller Badlapur, recalling a time when social media culture was far less advanced than it is today. Varun described a specific visit to a college in Delhi where he realized the potential of direct audience engagement. He explained that instead of a traditional announcement, he personally requested the 3,500 students in attendance to pull out their phones and record him while he revealed the film’s official release date. At that time, features like Instagram Stories had not yet become a global phenomenon, and the actor saw an opportunity to turn a single live moment into a widespread digital event by asking everyone to post the clip across their respective social media handles simultaneously.
The actor elaborated on the success of this “do-it-yourself” marketing strategy, noting that the collective effort of the students translated into immediate and organic visibility for the film. By having thousands of people share the same piece of content from their personal accounts, the message reached a much wider and more authentic audience than a standard press release could have achieved. Varun estimated that this simple request effectively doubled the reach instantly, ensuring that at least 7,000 people were immediately aware of the release date through the students’ circles. This grassroots approach highlighted his early understanding of how digital connectivity could be leveraged to build anticipation, proving that creative thinking can often be more impactful than a massive marketing budget. He emphasized that during that era, getting people to post specifically for a film was quite a task, making the students’ enthusiastic participation a key factor in the movie’s successful rollout.
The conversation also touched upon how internet culture continues to play an unexpected role in his career, with Varun mentioning the impact of viral memes and social media trends. He specifically referenced his recent hit Border 2, explaining how a popular meme featuring him became synonymous with the film’s song “Ghar Kab Aaoge.” Despite some of the attention coming from lighthearted trolling, the actor embraced the phenomenon, noting that the constant resharing of the meme provided “free publicity” that kept the song trending for weeks. Whether it was the calculated effort with 3,500 students for Badlapur or the organic viral nature of his recent projects, Varun highlighted that authenticity and real engagement remain the most powerful tools for any actor. As he prepares for his next release, the romantic comedy Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, fans are curious to see what innovative ways he will find to connect with his audience next.
To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you
