Varun Dhawan Opens Up About Salman Khan’s Support During Border 2 Trolling: “His Belief Meant a Lot”

Amid online criticism over his performance, the actor reveals how superstar Salman Khan’s late-night encouragement and heartfelt praise bolstered his confidence as Border 2 became a box office success.

At a recent press event celebrating the success of the war drama Border 2, Varun Dhawan spoke candidly about the online trolling he faced during the film’s promotional phase — and how industry megastar Salman Khan’s support helped him stay grounded and confident throughout it all.

Before its release, social media users focused intensely on the trailers, especially Dhawan’s expressions and smile, turning them into memes and harsh commentary that questioned whether he fit the serious role of a decorated soldier. Rather than letting the negativity consume him, Dhawan took it in stride, acknowledging that criticism has become commonplace in the digital age.

During the toughest moments of that backlash, Salman Khan reached out to Dhawan — not once, but twice. Dhawan revealed that at the height of the trolling, Khan called him one night, laughing and telling him, “Good things are about to come,” a simple reassurance that lifted his spirits. Later, when Border 2 turned into a box office hit, Khan contacted him again — this time in the early hours of the morning — to congratulate him and tell him, “I am proud of you, beta.” Dhawan described this as a defining moment, emphasizing that Khan rarely gives praise lightly, which made the gesture even more meaningful.

Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh and featuring a cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty alongside Dhawan, opened to strong box office numbers following its late-January release and received acclaim from both audiences and critics.

Many industry figures also rallied in Dhawan’s support amid the pre-release criticism. Filmmaker Karan Johar publicly defended him on social media, dismissing the trolling as noise and stressing that genuine audience appreciation matters far more than online chatter. Veteran actor Suniel Shetty also urged commenters to be more thoughtful before targeting artists, reminding fans that creators are human beings, not punchlines.

Reflecting on the experience, Dhawan shared that personal struggles his family faced during the shoot — including comforting his father during a health scare — helped put the online negativity into perspective. He now views trolling as trivial compared to real-life challenges, and credits his faith, support system, and belief in the film for helping him navigate the journey.

With Border 2 emerging as a box office milestone for Dhawan, his openness about the darker side of social media fame and the kindness of industry peers adds another layer to the film’s success story — showing that sometimes support off-screen matters as much as applause on it.