Varun Dhawan is back in the hot seat, facing online backlash once again—this time for allegedly borrowing his look from Tom Hanks’ iconic role in Cast Away. The actor’s newly released poster for his upcoming film Baby John features him sporting a thick beard that has drawn uncanny comparisons to Hanks' portrayal of Chuck Noland, leading to a wave of trolling on social media.
This isn’t the first time Varun has been at the receiving end of online jabs. Following his Pushpa-inspired look, which also caught fire on social media, the latest trolling highlights the scrutiny he faces as a public figure. Critics argue that the resemblance to Hanks’ character is a blatant rip-off, suggesting a lack of originality in his portrayal.
With increasing scrutiny over looks and perceived PR gimmicks, there’s growing concern about how this will affect the film's reception. Critics are quick to label the promotional tactics as uninspired, suggesting that copy-pasting from other iconic looks doesn’t bode well for the film’s originality and creative vision. The trolling might impact public perception as the film approaches its release date.
Despite the controversy, Baby John remains one of the most highly anticipated films of 2024. Directed by Kalees and produced by a powerhouse team including Atlee, Murad Khetani, and Jyoti Deshpande, the film is a remake of Atlee's Tamil hit Theri (2016). It features a promising cast, including Keerthy Suresh in her Hindi film debut, along with Wamiqa Gabbi and Jackie Shroff.
Baby John is set to hit theaters on December 25, 2024, and it remains to be seen how the backlash will affect its performance at the box office. Fans and critics alike are eager to see whether the film will rise above the noise and deliver a memorable cinematic experience, or if it will get bogged down by the controversies surrounding it.