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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                          MAY 08, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 44

                      Reel Legacy: The Dhawans Bridge

                      Generations with One Last Laugh

                As David Dhawan prepares what could be his final film, son Varun carries forward a

                                   legacy that blends nostalgia with modern Bollywood energy.

            OUR BUREAU
            Mumbai
               n an industry constantly chasing
               the new, the upcoming release
            Iof Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona
            Hai  is shaping up to be a rare mo-
            ment where the past and present
            converge—brought together by one
            of Hindi cinema’s most enduring fa-
            ther-son duos, David Dhawan and
            Varun Dhawan.
                Set to release on June 5, 2026, the
            romantic entertainer marks not just
            another collaboration between the
            two, but potentially the final directorial
            outing of the veteran filmmaker whose
            comedies  have  defined  mainstream
            Bollywood for over four decades.
                For  Varun,  the  film  represents
            both a professional milestone and a
            deeply personal journey. For David,          In many ways, the Dhawan duo embodies Bollywood’s ability to reinvent itself without losing its core (File photo)
            it is a closing chapter—one that ties
            together a career built on laughter,
            music and mass appeal, now handed   recognisable comedies in the indus-  been simple: make people laugh, feel   steps back, the son steps forward, car-
            over to the next generation.      try, including  Aankhen,  Raja Babu,   good about life, even if just for those   rying with him not just a surname but
                The road to the film’s release has   Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Partner and   three hours, and walk out of the the-  a cinematic legacy shaped by instinct,
            mirrored the unpredictability of the   Main Tera Hero—films that continue   atre with a smile.”       rhythm and an understanding of au-
            modern box office. Initially slated for   to resonate across generations.  That philosophy has shaped not   dience pulse.
            June 5, the film was pushed to June 12   Ahead of the new release, PVR   only his career but also his son’s tra-  The retrospective screenings and
            following scheduling shifts triggered by   Inox is curating a special retrospective,   jectory. Varun Dhawan, who has built   the new release together create a
            other big releases, then preponed to   screening  five  of  his  most  popular  ti-  his own identity as a bankable star,  narrative arc: from the heyday of sin-
            May 22, before finally returning to its   tles across the country. The initiative is   has often returned to the comic and   gle-screen entertainers to the multiplex
            original date. Announcing the reset on   both a tribute and a bridge—introduc-  romantic spaces that echo his father’s   era, from analog storytelling to a dig-
            social media, Varun thanked industry   ing younger viewers to a brand of cine-  cinematic language.   ital-first audience, from father to son.
            peers for enabling the move, calling it   ma that once dominated the box office.  Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai   In many ways, the Dhawan duo
            “the first film to release post IPL.”  “It is an honour for us to host a   continues that tradition, with Varun   embodies  Bollywood’s  ability  to  re-
                The adjustments underline how   festival dedicated to Mr. David Dha-  stepping back into the romantic-com-  invent itself without losing its core.
            contemporary Bollywood operates—  wan’s  remarkable  legacy,”  said  Ni-  edy genre alongside co-stars Mrunal   While storytelling styles evolve and
            fluid, competitive, and responsive to   harika Bijli, lead strategist at PVR   Thakur and Pooja Hegde. The film is   market dynamics shift, the  essence
            market dynamics. Yet, at its heart, the   Inox  Ltd.  “Over  decades,  his  films   expected to be his second release of   of entertainment—laughter, emotion
            film remains rooted in a style of story-  have  defined  mainstream  Hindi  en-  the year, reinforcing his position in a   and connection—remains constant.
            telling that David Dhawan helped pop-  tertainment, bringing joy to audienc-  rapidly evolving industry.  As  audiences  prepare  to  watch
            ularise: high-energy, feel-good enter-  es across generations. This festival is a   Yet,  beyond  box  office  expecta-  Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai in
            tainers designed for a wide audience.  rare opportunity for newer audiences   tions,  the  film  carries  an  emotional   theatres, they are not just witnessing
                That sensibility is now being re-  to rediscover some of his iconic films   weight. David Dhawan has indicated   another film release. They are partic-
            visited at a time when audiences are   in the format they were originally cre-  that this may be his final project as a   ipating in a moment where cinema’s
            increasingly drawn to both nostalgia   ated for.”                   director, citing health considerations.  past and present meet—crafted by a
            and novelty. The Dhawan collabora-    For David Dhawan, the moment   In a candid remark, he said, “This   filmmaker  who  defined  an  era,  and
            tion sits squarely at this intersection.  is as reflective as it is celebratory. “I   might be my last film… after this, I’ll   carried forward by an actor shaping
                David  Dhawan’s  influence  on   have always believed in making films   just be Varun’s father.”  the next.
            Hindi cinema is difficult to overstate.  that entertain people and help them   The  statement  reflects  a  gener-  For the Dhawans, it is more than
            With a career spanning more than 40   forget the struggles of their daily   ational handover—one that is both   just a film. It is a legacy, playing out
            years, he has crafted some of the most   lives,” he said. “My idea has always   literal and symbolic. As the veteran   one last time on the big screen.

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