Varun Dhawan’s filmography has a fun commercial pattern hiding in plain sight. Bollywood has long enjoyed the one hero, two heroines setup, and Varun has returned to that space across romances, comedies, dance films and action entertainers. Now, the formula is back in focus with Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, which pairs him with Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde.
It is not just a stray coincidence. From Student of the Year to Main Tera Hero, from Judwaa 2 to Baby John, Varun’s screen world has often expanded around two major female presences, giving his films added romance, glamour and comic confusion.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Keeps The Formula Alive
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a Hindi romantic comedy directed by David Dhawan and produced by Ramesh Taurani under Tips Films, with Maximillian Films also associated with the project. The film stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles, along with Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Shergill, Chunky Panday, Mouni Roy, Rajesh Kumar, Rakesh Bedi and Ali Asgar.
The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on June 5, 2026. Its premise centres on romance, family chaos and comic misunderstandings, a zone that has long been associated with David Dhawan’s brand of mainstream entertainment.
Judwaa 2, Baby John And The Two Heroine Trail
One of the clearest examples of this pattern was Judwaa 2, where Varun played dual roles opposite Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu. The 2017 entertainer used its double role and two heroine setup to create the kind of confusion driven comedy that has defined several Hindi commercial films.
The pattern resurfaced in Baby John in 2024. The action drama, directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee, featured Varun with Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi. Keerthy brought emotional heft to the story, while Wamiqa added a distinct dramatic energy to the film’s world.
Varun’s debut itself had shades of this structure. Student of the Year featured Alia Bhatt at the centre of the romantic track, while Sana Saeed added glamour and rivalry to the campus drama. In Main Tera Hero, David Dhawan placed him in a full fledged comic love triangle with Ileana D’Cruz and Nargis Fakhri. Later, Street Dancer 3D brought him together with Shraddha Kapoor and Nora Fatehi, while Kalank featured him in an ensemble with Alia Bhatt and Kiara Advani.
Varun Dhawan’S Recent And Upcoming Work
Varun’s recent phase has moved between theatrical releases and streaming projects. He starred in Bhediya in 2022 with Kriti Sanon and then appeared in Bawaal in 2023 opposite Janhvi Kapoor on Prime Video. In 2024, he headlined Prime Video’s Citadel: Honey Bunny with Samantha Ruth Prabhu and led the theatrical action film Baby John with Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi.
In 2025, Varun reunited with Janhvi Kapoor for Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which also featured Sanya Malhotra and underperformed commercially. In January 2026, he appeared in Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh, alongside Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. His next confirmed theatrical release is Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai on June 5, 2026.
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