The launch of the new Dishoom poster, ahead of the release of the movie's trailer on Wednesday, June 1, features lead actors Varun Dhawan and John Abraham with an unexpected co-star – a British Bulldog.
“So this is how Kabir and Junaid walk into work on a Monday morning,” Dhawan posted on Instagram, referencing the characters he and Abraham portray in the action drama, which was partly shot in Abu Dhabi over a month earlier this year.
Their characters' canine friend came as no surprise to The National, as we had spotted the dog on set back in February, while the cast and crew of Dishoom were on set at Yas Marina.
Akshay Khanna was being filmed walking the dog along the waterfront, with Dhawan on board a nearby yacht. The dog proved his own star quality by following Khanna on the lead obediently, and only one take had to be shot.
When The National interviewed Dhawan during a break from shooting, he said: "It's good to see that the dog has been very well-behaved so far."
Dhawan is clearly a fan of British dog breeds – he owns a beagle called Angel. He recently told the Hindustan Times: "I'm very fond of dogs … Interestingly, there's a British bulldog in my building as well. They are quite different from other dogs, but I became friendly with it in no time. The fact that I bonded with the dog helped complete the shoot smoothly."
Dishoom is due to be released in the UAE on July 28.
artslife@thenational.ae
