Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur And More: Maniesh Paul Drops Fun BTS Moments From ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ Sets
Maniesh Paul shared a fun-filled behind-the-scenes photo dump from ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, celebrating his bond with Varun Dhawan, David Dhawan and the film’s cast.
Bollywood actor Maniesh Paul clearly had the time of his life with ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, and his latest Instagram photo dump proves it. The actor-host has treated fans to a behind-the-scenes carousel from the David Dhawan entertainer – still running in theatres – and the gallery is everything you’d expect from a Dhawan set: loud colours, non-stop laughter and a whole lot of love for his “partner in crime,” Varun Dhawan.
ALSO READ | Mouni Roy Drops Fun ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ Photo Dump With Varun, Pooja, Mrunal And More. See Pics
The post opened with the now-viral gag that Maniesh built his entire caption around. “Never knew a purse would become so important in my career,” he wrote, posing mid-scene with a small black handbag while a delighted Varun cheered him on.
Check out Maniesh Paul’s Instagram post below:
Co-star Pooja Hegde quickly jumped into the comments to claim ownership, calling the moment “epic” and reminding everyone that it was her purse. It’s exactly the kind of silly, throwaway set-piece that has come to define the film’s comic universe.
From there, the dump turned into a celebration of the Maniesh–Varun chemistry. The two were seen goofing around in matching beachwear, striking exaggerated lifeguard-station poses against candy-coloured seaside backdrops, lounging in printed resort shirts and cracking up between takes. With ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, the duo has now completed a hat-trick of collaborations after ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ and ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ — and the easy, brotherly energy in every frame explained exactly why filmmakers keep bringing them back together.
Some of the warmest images, though, were the ones with the man at the centre of it all: director David Dhawan. Maniesh shared several candid moments with the veteran filmmaker — heads bent together over a script, a hearty laugh in the sun, a quiet chat on a wicker sofa between shots. The tenderness landed harder knowing the film is being billed as David Dhawan’s farewell directorial. For Maniesh, who has spoken about once buying tickets in black to catch David Dhawan’s ‘Judwaa’ as a youngster, working with the director was a genuine full-circle moment — and these pictures wear that affection on their sleeve.
The leading ladies weren’t left out either. Maniesh signed off his note with a special shout-out to his co-stars Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde – “Love you both for being sooooo amazing!!!!” – and the carousel included playful group frames, a cosy hug under fairy lights and breezy airport selfies that captured the team’s off-screen camaraderie. Even Mouni Roy, who also featured in the film, showed her love, popping up among the 10.2k-plus accounts that liked the post.
Directed by David Dhawan and produced by Ramesh Taurani under Tips Films along with Gaurav Bose’s Maximilian Films, ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ released in cinemas on June 5, 2026.
The romantic comedy stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, with Maniesh Paul, Chunky Panday, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mouni Roy and others rounding out the ensemble – and if Maniesh’s photo dump is any indication, the cast had every bit as much fun making it as audiences are having watching it.
