Varun Dhawan remembers his driver who died in his arms; says, 'I play a hero onscreen, but on that day, I failed myself'

Varun with driver

Varun Dhawan recently opened up about a deeply personal and life-changing experience that has profoundly affected him. In an emotional conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, Varun revealed that his driver, Manoj, died in his arms, a traumatic event that led him to reevaluate his life and seek solace in holy scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.

Varun Dhawan shared the heartbreaking details of Manoj's sudden passing, describing the profound impact it had on him. Manoj had been more than just a driver to Varun; he was a close confidant and friend who had been with him for many years. Varun’s voice quivered with emotion as he recounted the day Manoj died. “For the longest time, I was living in a bubble. There is a Varun Dhawan before and after 35," he confessed. This incident shattered his idealistic view of himself as a hero, a role he often portrayed onscreen. "I used to see myself in an idealistic way—that I’m a hero, and I can save the day because I literally play a hero onscreen. But on that day, I failed myself."

The traumatic event occurred while they were at work. Varun recalled, “I was very close to Manoj, who was my driver for many years. He passed suddenly while we were working. I did CPR. We took him to Lilavati Hospital and we got him there on time. It was like we saved someone’s life. But he passed away in my arms. It was hard to see how casual was his passing. It just happened like that."

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This devastating loss deeply affected Varun’s outlook on life and work. He admitted that the grief took a toll on his professional life, leading to a noticeable reduction in his work output. “If you see my work also became less. I am having a release after two years. Baby John is releasing in theatres after two years. It definitely hit me hard," Varun noted.

The upcoming film Baby John, a remake of Theri, is set to release on December 25, marking his return to the big screen after a significant hiatus.

In the aftermath of Manoj’s death, Varun turned to faith to find solace and answers. He began reading the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. “I realised you have to move forward as a human being. These incidents shake you, but you can’t stay stagnant. I began reading the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and Ramayana—just randomly—because I had so many questions," he shared.

Varun had previously mentioned that Manoj’s death occurred during the pandemic. Manoj was recovering from Covid-19 but tragically suffered a fatal heart attack.