1. Student of the Year (2012)
Rom-com fans love Rohan Nanda. Every star needs a perfect launchpad and for Varun Dhawan, it came in the form of Karan Johar’s glossy and youth-driven Student of the Year. The confident and stylish rich kid with a vulnerable heart made an unforgettable first impression. The film was a celebration of friendship, rivalry and first love. Varun’s character wore designer outfits and rocked in dance competitions. His chemistry with Alia Bhatt was playful yet sincere and hinted at the strong on-screen partnerships they would later share.
2. Main Tera Hero (2014)
Two years later, Varun turned the volume up with Main Tera Hero. Interestingly, the movie was directed by his father, David Dhawan, the king of 90s slapstick romance. Varun channelled the manic energy of Govinda and Salman Khan with his own youthful twist. As Seenu, the mischievous small-town boy with big-city ambitions, he danced through chaos and confusion involving not one, but two -leading ladies. The co-stars included Ileana D’Cruz and Nargis Fakhri. The film’s humour was deliberately over-the-top and Varun owned every bit of it.
3. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014)
Released in the same year, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania showed an entirely different side of Varun. He wasn’t the loud prankster anymore. Humpty was an endearing Delhi boy hopelessly in love with the strong-willed Kavya (Alia Bhatt). The boy-meets-girl story felt rooted in everyday life.
Varun’s character was relatable. He played a man who was flawed but full of heart. He was willing to stand up to tradition for love. His crackling chemistry with Alia Bhatt gave the film its emotional pulse. Together, they created one of the decade’s most loved screen pairs. The movie proved to be a simple story with warmth and relatability.
4. Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017)
If Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was about fun and heart, Badrinath Ki Dulhania brought in doses of maturity. Varun played the role of Badri. He is a small-town man raised in a patriarchal environment. Varun explored a new kind of romantic hero. He is one who learns and grows through love. Opposite Alia Bhatt’s fiercely independent Vaidehi, Badri’s journey from entitled lover to understanding partner became a reflection of changing gender dynamics in India. What could have been a frothy rom-com instead became a story that teaches empathy and respect.
5. Dilwale (2015)
While Dilwale is remembered primarily as the reunion of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, Varun Dhawan’s presence added a refreshing youthfulness to the mix. As Veer, the younger brother of SRK’s character, he brought charm, humour and a bright spark of romance opposite Kriti Sanon. The film’s scale was massive! The fast cars, exotic locales and sweeping emotions were larger-than-life. Amidst all, Varun managed to carve out his own space within the ensemble. His track offered a lighter, more playful romantic energy that balanced the film’s dramatic core.
Also Read: Varun Dhawan’s Haldi Pictures Are Proof That Varun ki Shaadi Was a Blast!
6. Judwaa 2 (2017)
A reboot of his father’s and Salman Khan’s iconic Judwaa, this film brought Varun into full-blown entertainer territory. Playing twins Raja and Prem, one street-smart, one soft-spoken, he delivered a performance brimming with old-school comedy and cheeky romance. Rom-com elements ran throughout the film, with Varun’s interactions with Jacqueliene Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu adding sparkle to the chaos. While critics were divided, audiences loved the nostalgia and the unabashed humour.
7. Jug Jugg Jeeyo (2022)
A decade after his debut, Varun Dhawan’s rom-com persona had matured and Jug Jugg Jeeyo reflected that growth. Here, he played Kuku, a married man facing the complexities of love after the honeymoon phase fades.
Set against the backdrop of family weddings and intergenerational relationships, the film explored how love evolves with time. It was witty yet grounded and funny yet reflective. Varun’s chemistry with Kiara Advani felt fresh. Moreover, his interactions with senior co-stars like Neetu Kapoor and Anil Kapoor were widely praised.
Interestingly, Jug Jugg Jeeyo shows Varun Dhawan in a more grounded and emotionally aware avatar. He still maintains his funny person but he appears more human than ever.
8. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025)
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari had generated massive buzz as a return to Varun’s rom-com roots. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, the man behind the Dulhania films, the movie promised to blend classic romance with contemporary flair and it delivered.
For fans, this project feels like a full-circle moment: Varun reuniting with the genre that defined his stardom. In this movie, Varun starred alongside Janhvi Kapoor Rohit Saraf, Sanya Malhotra and Maniesh Paul.
More than a decade into his career, Varun Dhawan stands as one of Bollywood’s most dependable romantic-comedy star. He is a performer who can make audiences laugh, cry and dance all within the same film. His filmography is an example in how to keep a genre vibrant without letting it stagnate.
