Kamal Ghorui
The war drama ‘Border 2’, starring Varun Dhawan and Sunny Deol along with Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, and directed by Anurag Singh, continues its strong run at the box office. As the film enjoys widespread appreciation, the director has finally addressed the harsh criticism Varun Dhawan faced even before the film’s release.In a recent interview, Anurag Singh said that those who doubted Varun Dhawan’s acting abilities should now apologise to him.
What Anurag Singh said about Varun Dhawan trolls
Anurag Singh did not mince words while addressing the pre-release chatter surrounding Varun Dhawan. He pointed out how actors are often judged even before audiences get a chance to see their work. According to him, criticism is acceptable, but unnecessary personal attacks are not.He told Hindustan Times, “If people are submitting apology letters, then it is good. If you criticised something and unnecessarily did so, once you like it, you should say sorry and admit it was wrong. Actors put themselves out there. They come in front of the camera and do 50 things, out of which 10 people might not like, which is okay. You can’t be liked every time. But when it gets personal, it affects a person.”
Negativity and how it thrives on social media
The filmmaker also spoke about how negativity has become the easiest route to attention online. He explained that social media often rewards harsh opinions over balanced views.“Jisko aur kuch nahi bolna wo sochta hai negative bol deta hoon, social media pe likes aa jayenge,” he said, reflecting on how this mindset has grown over time.He added, “In the field we are in, we are more open to criticism than others, as we are always in the spotlight, especially actors. There is more scrutiny and conversation around them. People write negative things, say bad things, and get traction and followers.”According to Anurag Singh, people often resort to negativity to gain attention, engagement, and followers, making positivity feel increasingly rare.
Varun Dhawan’s performance speaks for itself
Despite the noise and criticism, Anurag Singh believes Border 2 has effectively silenced its detractors. He acknowledged that personal attacks can deeply affect actors, who constantly put themselves up for public judgment. However, he maintained that genuine work ultimately speaks louder than negativity.Concluding on a confident note, he said, “Whoever faces that attack directly does get affected. People do negativity because it gets them more views, which is why this trend exists on social media. But I am happy this has left our film because ab kaam bol raha hai.”
