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Shashank Khaitan's Mentorship Propels Varun and Janhvi to New Levels of Success
11 Oct
Summary
- Shashank Khaitan's mentorship shaped Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor's acting craft and confidence
- Janhvi credits Khaitan for the foundation of her acting skills from their first film "Dhadak"
- Varun praises Khaitan for pushing him to be his best and making everyone shine in his films
As of October 11th, 2025, director Shashank Khaitan's influence on the careers of Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor remains strong. In exclusive interviews, the two actors have opened up about how Khaitan's mentorship has shaped their craft, confidence, and collaborative approach.
Janhvi Kapoor traces her acting roots back to her first feature film, "Dhadak," which she made under Khaitan's guidance. She says the foundation of everything she knows about her craft is because of him. Khaitan's focus on an actor's "intention" in a scene and in the overall film has left a lasting impression on Janhvi.
For Varun Dhawan, collaborating with Khaitan is a pure joy. The director gives Varun the freedom to explore and pushes him to be the best version of himself. Khaitan has also taught Varun the importance of making everyone in the film shine, as it ultimately benefits the project as a whole. Varun considers his work with Khaitan to be one of his most rewarding creative partnerships.
The candid accounts from Varun and Janhvi underscore how enduring mentorship and friendship can empower actors to reach their full potential, leading to stronger performances and better films.
