Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan is currently capturing the limelight with his forthcoming spy thriller web series, Citadel: Honey Bunny. The excitement surrounding the project escalated recently with the release of its trailer, which was showcased at a launch event attended by Varun and the entire production team. This event provided an opportunity for the actor to reflect on his past experiences, particularly with the esteemed director Aditya Chopra, who had previously declined to cast him in action films.
During the event, Dhawan shared an intriguing anecdote regarding his aspirations to collaborate with Chopra. He revealed, “I asked Aditya Chopra why he couldn’t create an action film with young talents and if he would consider casting me in one of his projects.” Chopra's response was candid; he expressed a preference for offering Dhawan roles that were not centered around action. Despite this initial setback, Varun was undeterred and persistently pursued the director. Ultimately, Chopra clarified his reasoning: “He couldn’t proceed because he was unable to provide the necessary budget at that time.”
Delving deeper into the reasons for Chopra’s refusal, Dhawan elaborated, “Aditya told me that I wasn’t at a stage in my career where he could allocate such a significant budget for me.” This statement prompted Dhawan to reflect critically on his standing within the industry. He later inquired about the budgetary constraints and was informed that he needed to accomplish something more substantial before being considered for such projects.
The actor expressed gratitude to Raj and DK, the creators of Citadel: Honey Bunny, acknowledging their instrumental role in bringing his action ambitions to fruition. He stated, “When Citadel: Honey Bunny came into the picture, I asked Raj and DK, as well as Amazon, about the budget. From my discussions with Aditya Chopra, I understood how much is necessary to make action sequences visually impressive.” He emphasized the significance of adequately funded production values in creating grand action scenes, remarking, “I am grateful to them for providing me this platform, as it’s essential to make action scenes grand and portray actors as larger than life.”
Citadel: Honey Bunny is not only a pivotal moment for Dhawan but also features the talented Samantha Ruth Prabhu in a leading role. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including notable performances by KK Menon, Simran Bagga, Sikandar Kher, and Saqib Saleem. This action-thriller serves as a spin-off prequel to the successful Citadel, featuring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden. Fans eagerly await the series, which is set to premiere on November 7, 2024.
