"Virat Kohli is the king": Varun Dhawan reacts to RCB's triumphant win in IPL 2026
Ahmedabad, June 1
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has dubbed cricketer Virat Kohli as the "king" after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL triumph.
Varun Dhawan, who was present in Ahmedabad for the promotions of his film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai', spoke to the media and shared his reaction to RCB's victory in the IPL 2026 edition.
"RCB won. It was fun. Virat Kohli is the king," the actor said.
He also opened up about receiving a warm reception in Gujarat. "I had a lot of fun. The people of Gujarat gave me a lot of love."
Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday won their second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final at Gujarat's Narendra Modi Stadium.
RCB became only the third side after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) to defend their IPL crown successfully.
The Rajat Patidar-led side, after restricting GT to 155/8 in the first innings, chased the target with five wickets and two overs remaining.
On the work front for Varun Dhawan, the actor's 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is all set to hit theatres on June 5, 2026.
The film marks the fourth collaboration between David Dhawan and Varun Dhawan. Also starring Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, the film positions itself as a family entertainer revolving around romantic misunderstandings and comic chaos.
The ensemble cast includes Rakesh Bedi, Chunky Panday, Jimmy Shergill, Mouni Roy, Rajesh Kumar and Ali Asgar in pivotal roles.
The film also features energetic music and dance sequences, including a remixed version of the 1990s track 'Chunari Chunari'. Songs such as 'WOW', 'Tera Ho Jaun' and 'Vyah Karwado Ji' have already generated attention online.
According to the trailer, Varun Dhawan's character finds himself trapped in a chaotic love triangle involving a former lover and a new romantic interest. One of the major comic moments teased in the trailer involves an accidental pregnancy confession by the characters played by Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm happy for RCB but honestly, Varun Dhawan is just promoting his film. 😅 "Virat Kohli is the king" – it's a safe line to grab headlines. Bollywood and cricket ke is pyaar ko dekhte rahiye. Don't mind the PR though, it's smart.
What a turnaround for RCB! From never winning to defending the title. And they beat GT at their home ground. Hats off to Rajat Patidar's captaincy and the whole team. Varun Dhawan's comment is just extra masala. 🏏
As an RCB fan from abroad, this feels surreal. 🙌 Kohli's legacy is beyond numbers now. Two IPL titles in a row? Unreal. The movie promotion timing is peak Bollywood – but hey, any mention of RCB winning is music to my ears. Looking forward to 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' if it's half as entertaining as this final!
Varun Dhawan is clearly riding the RCB wave for his film's release. Nothing wrong with that – but calling Kohli "king" feels like an understatement. The man has carried this franchise for over a decade and now finally has trophies to show for it. Also, that 'Chunari Chunari' remix? Please spare us. 😅
Great win for RCB. But I think Varun Dhawan's comment is more about PR for his movie than genuine cricket passion. Still, it's nice to see Bollywood stars celebrating Indian cricket. Hopefully the film
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