Salman Khan's 2 AM Pride for Varun Dhawan

During a press conference celebrating Border 2's success, Varun Dhawan revealed significant personal events that occurred during filming. He spoke of his father, David Dhawan, being admitted to the ICU while Varun was shooting the Battle of Basantar sequence. Despite the personal crisis, his father encouraged him to return to work.

This period of real-life struggle helped Dhawan gain perspective on online trolling, which he described as a mere fashion. He received substantial emotional support from Salman Khan, who called him late at night to offer encouragement and express belief in his impending success.

Following Border 2's release and its positive reception despite earlier criticism, Salman Khan again reached out. A particularly impactful call occurred at 2 am, during which Khan expressed immense pride in Dhawan's achievement, a rare gesture that deeply moved the actor.

Dhawan faced considerable social media trolling before the film's debut, with critics questioning his suitability for the role of a war hero. He handled this criticism by not taking it too seriously and relying on his family's support and his own belief in the film.

Border 2, featuring Sunny Deol and Diljit Dosanjh alongside Dhawan, was released on January 23, 2026. The film's success marked a significant moment for Varun Dhawan, who navigated personal challenges and public scrutiny.