Actor Varun Dhawan, who is making his debut with Karan Johar's Student of the Year, says he always wanted to start on his own in Bollywood rather than getting launched by his father David Dhawan. "I had always wished to start on my own, to test waters on my own. Had I begun with my dad's film, the launching would not have been the way I wanted. And I would not have taken such a move. Now I have no qualms in working with my father," he told reporters here while promoting the film, which also stars newcomers Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra.

Siddharth, who essayed the character of Abhimanyu Singh in the movie, said, "I had never imagined to face the camera, that too for a sizable screen space, in a Karan Johar film at such an early phase of my career. "

The duo, who had earlier been assistant directors of Johar's superhit My Name Is Khan, recalled how they were taken aback when Johar first approached them with the role.

"We have been on promo from October 14 all over India and Kolkata is the last leg. Hope the city of Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak will not turn its back to Students of the Year," Dhawan said.