But will Sui Dhaaga, a film about the common man’s common dreams, as steeped in naturalism as Kataria’s debut film Dum Lagake Haisha, get the box-office figures that Varun’s big blockbusters such Badarinath Ki Dulhaniya and Judwaa 2 obtained?. The promos of Sui Dhaaga have been well received and it has the Yash Raj banner behind it but the content will have to be really great and connect with a large mass of people for it to strike gold. If the movie doesn’t work at the box office, then 2018, will be Varun’s most creatively satisfying year but also the weakest in terms of money earned. While Varun is all for doing unorthodox roles, his father, the blockbuster machine, David Dhawan feels numbers are vital to an actor’s career.

Says David, “I’m very proud of what Varun has done in October and Sui Dhaaga this year. But box-office success is very important. It is only when a film like Judwaa 2 earns the big bucks that Varun becomes empowered to do the kind of classy work he has done in 2018.”

Chances are, Varun will now cut down on the classy and plunge into the massy. Says a source very close to Varun, “He had decided to do one non-mainstream film every year. But in 2018 he did two offbeat films. So Varun won’t be doing any non-mainstream films next year.”