While working on ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, David Dhawan revealed thoughts of retiring from direction. He added that post this film, his role may shift fully to family life.
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Veteran filmmaker David Dhawan has been in the industry for more than three decades, directing over 45 films. Now, he is working with his son, actor Varun Dhawan, in the upcoming film ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’. And while this pairing might look like a comfortable family collaboration from the outside, Dhawan says the working dynamic is very clear: when the camera rolls, the father-son equation takes a back seat.
He also hinted that this project might be the final film he directs.
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Speaking to ANI, David Dhawan explained that his first responsibility on set is always as a director, not as a father.
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He said the most important thing for him is always to have a good actor in front of the camera. For him, that priority does not change even when the actor is his own son.
Dhawan said the tuning between him and Varun has developed naturally over time. He also mentioned that Varun is not someone who blindly follows instructions. According to him, Varun questions things, understands scenes deeply, and has already worked in around 13 to 14 films.
He explained that their comfort level makes working easier, and he even told himself that while he is still active in filmmaking, it makes sense to do one or two films with his son.
But once shooting begins, he makes a clear separation. On set, Varun is not treated as his son but as an actor who must deliver results like anyone else.
The conversation also moved into how films are made and how things have changed over time. Varun Dhawan has previously joked about not always getting a full script in advance, something that has created light complaints from him.
David Dhawan responded by pointing out that this is not unusual from his generation of filmmaking. He said earlier films were often made on trust rather than full written narration.
Also, he recalled that in his time, things used to happen quickly, sometimes even over phone conversations, and full scripts were not always shared in advance.
He also compared the process with actors from earlier eras, saying stars like Salman Khan, Govinda, and Sanjay Dutt did not always hear complete scripts before shooting. Instead, scenes were narrated as needed and films were shaped step by step.
This approach, he said, is part of the filmmaking style he still believes in.
Behind the shooting schedule of ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, there was also a serious personal moment that Dhawan revealed during the interview.
He shared that he was unwell during the shoot of the film. The situation became serious enough that by the fourth day of shooting, he had to go to the hospital.
During this time, Varun Dhawan reportedly took care of him. According to David Dhawan, Varun stayed closely involved, kept contact with doctors, collected medical information, and made sure he was looked after properly.
He described Varun as someone who behaves like a complete family man in real situations, especially during emergencies like this.
David Dhawan also reflected on his long career in cinema. With more than 45 films directed over several decades, he said he feels satisfied with the journey he has had in the industry.
He has worked with several major actors across different eras, including names like Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Govinda, and Salman Khan. Looking back, he said he does not feel he has anything more to demand from his career.
He also credited his filmmaking inspiration to producer-director Manmohan Desai, saying he followed his style of cinema closely. That influence, according to him, shaped his belief in big entertainment films, music-heavy storytelling, and performance-driven cinema.
In a more personal comment, Dhawan hinted that ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ could be his final directorial film. He suggested that due to health and other reasons, he may not continue directing after this project.
He also said that after this film, his role may shift more toward being just Varun’s father, focusing on family life rather than filmmaking responsibilities.
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‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ brings together Varun Dhawan with actors Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur. The film is produced by Ramesh Taurani and directed by David Dhawan.
The makers had already released a teaser earlier.
However, the release date has shifted multiple times. The film was first planned for April 10. Then it moved to June 5, and has now been finalised for theatrical release on June 12.
With inputs from ANI.
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