“Rajpal Yadav reveals the challenges of remakes and praises Varun Dhawan’s dedication despite the failure of ‘Baby John.'”
January 9, 2025: Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan’s latest film, Baby John, has struggled to make an impact at the box office, earning less than ₹50 crore against a massive budget of ₹180 crore. Amid speculation about Varun’s state of mind following the debacle, co-star Rajpal Yadav has shed light on the situation.
In Baby John, Rajpal Yadav plays the role of constable Ram Sevak, a trusted ally to Varun’s character, DCP Satya Verma. During a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Yadav attributed the film’s underwhelming performance to its status as a remake of the Tamil hit Theri. He explained, “If this wasn’t a remake, it would have been one of the best films of my 25-year career. But since Vijay had already done it, the audience had seen the story. This factor affected the box office outcome.”
When asked if Varun Dhawan was ‘depressed’ over the film’s failure, Yadav dismissed the notion, praising the actor’s hard work and willingness to take risks. “Varun is such a sweet and hardworking boy. He always tries to do something different, and his efforts should be appreciated. It’s a big deal to take risks, even when they don’t pay off as expected,” he said.
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Released on December 25, 2024, Baby John also featured Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles. The action drama follows DCP Satya Verma, nicknamed Baby John, as he leads a peaceful life with his daughter Khushi and his loyal friend Ram Sevak. However, secrets from Satya’s past resurface, bringing him face-to-face with his nemesis, Babar Sher (played by Jackie Shroff). The film explores Satya’s quest for justice and revenge while addressing societal issues like the exploitation of women.
Despite a promising premise, Baby John received mostly negative reviews. Critics highlighted flaws in its writing and direction, with one review describing the film as sluggish in the first half and predictable in the second. Comparisons were also drawn to Akshay Kumar’s Rowdy Rathore, further dampening the film’s reception.
