Varun Dhawan shared this image. (courtesy: varundvn)
Varun Dhawan has served up a hot take on his own film Bawaal and Hollywood release Oppenheimer, both of which have been criticized for controversial scenes. Bawaal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, features the Holocaust as a plot point, comparing a troubled marriage to Hitler's regime and concentration camps like Auschwitz. The film features lines like this one spoken by Janhvi Kapoor's character: "Hum sab bhi toh thode bohot Hitler jaise hi hai na (we all are a little bit like Hitler)." Speaking to Pinkvilla, Varun pointed out that his character is meant to be grey. "What I don't understand like how Sir (Nitesh Tiwari) said that it's a context and the protagonist is from Lucknow and it's showing that the character which is Ajju Bhaiya is initially a tone-deaf character. This is how it has been shown and it's not showing the character as a hero but as a negative. That's why all the praise is coming for the character that a hero for the first time gets to do a negative character. So the character is supposed to be negative. So the way Nisha (Janhvi's character) will explain him in a way that he should understand."
"Secondly, I respect everyone's opinions and everyone has a right to have an opinion. Some people got triggered and sensitive about this but I don't understand where that sensitivity or the trigger goes when they watch an English film. They are allowed to do and show everything and you will find that in a correct way," Varun added.
If that sounds like Varun Dhawan is not aware of the Oppenheimer controversy, here's what he said next: "I know people who felt very triggered after watching the small scene from a recently released film but it's a scene that is very important to our culture and our country but that is okay for you. So where does the criticism go then? But with us, you wanna get personal. You cannot have a different yardstick to measure everyone and it should be the same. There is no need for judging films this way."
While he didn't name Oppenheimer, he could hardly have been referring to any other film. The Christopher Nolan-directed film has caused official outrage in India by including a quote from the Bhagavad Gita in a sex scene.
Bawaal showcases the story of a history teacher (Varun Dhawan), who, along with wife Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) goes to Europe to visit World War 2 sites, which changes him and his relationship forever.