Varun Dhawan’s performance in the blockbuster ‘Border 2’ is earning praise, including from filmmaker Shashank Khaitan, who lauded his sincerity despite earlier criticism of his “tedhi smile.” The war drama, a spiritual sequel to the 1997 film, has already surpassed ₹200 crore at the Indian box office within five days of its January 23, 2026 release.