Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan continues to generate a spectrum of responses to his portrayal in the recently released war drama Border 2. Headlined by veteran actor Sunny Deol, the film hit theaters on January 23, strategically timed ahead of Republic Day 2026. Amidst the buzz surrounding the movie's reception, a peculiar fan gesture has captured widespread attention online.
Fan Gesture Sparks Online Debate
Visuals circulating on social media platforms show enthusiastic fans pouring milk over a promotional poster of Border 2 featuring Varun Dhawan. In the footage, one individual is also seen waving the Indian national flag, adding a patriotic element to the celebration. This act, intended as a tribute to the film's success, has ignited a heated discussion among netizens regarding resource wastage.
Janhvi Kapoor's Brief Social Media Reaction
A post condemning the milk-pouring ritual quickly gained traction online, notably receiving a 'like' from actress Janhvi Kapoor. The post, shared by the popular Instagram account BollyBlindsNGossip, criticized the unnecessary wastage, suggesting the milk could have been better utilized by those in need. Screenshots of Kapoor's engagement with the post were subsequently shared on Reddit, where a user highlighted her interaction.
However, the user later updated that the Dhadak actress removed her like, indicating the post had garnered significant attention. This swift action has fueled speculation about the industry's awareness of such controversies.
Netizens Weigh In on the Controversy
The online community has expressed diverse opinions regarding both the fan gesture and Janhvi Kapoor's reaction. One commenter applauded Kapoor's initial like, stating, "Kinda happy that she actually liked this post. Because what in the world was that bullsh*t?" Another user clarified, "Yeah this like is probably not about hating Varun but the wastage of milk shown."
A different perspective emerged with a netizen noting, "Baat toh sahi hai. And it's not just Varun fans. I have seen many actors' fans doing this," highlighting that such practices are not isolated to Dhawan's fanbase. Neither Janhvi Kapoor nor Varun Dhawan has publicly commented on the fan video or the ensuing debate.
Industry Connections and Film Background
For context, Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan share a close friendship within the Bollywood circuit, having collaborated on films like Bawaal and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. Border 2, inspired by true events from the 1971 India-Pakistan War, also features performances by Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, adding to its ensemble cast.
Varun Dhawan Addresses Online Trolling
In a recent event in Mumbai, Varun Dhawan opened up about dealing with social media trolling, emphasizing resilience. As per ANI reports, he stated, "I believe that you shut down the noise and just let your work do the talking. Yeh sab cheezein chalti rehti hain (All these things keep happening). It doesn't really matter."
He further expressed confidence in his work, adding, "Mujhe film pe bharosa hai. Ek achi film banana bohot zaroori hai. Obviously, numbers and all these things don't concern me. But I believe ki humne ek achi film banayi hai (I believe in the film. It's very important to make a good film. I'm not concerned with numbers. I believe we made a good film). That's the most important thing."
Industry Support from Karan Johar
Earlier, filmmaker Karan Johar, who launched Varun Dhawan in Bollywood, publicly defended the actor against online critics. On Instagram, Johar praised Dhawan's performance in Border 2, writing, "Has to be said... the reason why it's called a virtual world! Real will always score and prove the noise on social media as defunct!"
He continued, "You can troll an artist for his smile but then he laughs when the film releases to packed houses and he receives pure authentic audience love!" Johar concluded with a strong statement, "So noisemakers and clickbait seeking content creators can do what they like ... truth will always prevail!" underscoring his support for Dhawan amidst the ongoing discussions.
