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Varun Dhawan met Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. A viral video sparked debate over whether Khabib declined a selfie.
Fans React as Khabib Nurmagomedov Appears to Ignore Varun Dhawan’s Selfie Request.
Well, this is awkward, or is it? A new video from the UFC 321 event in Abu Dhabi has everyone talking after fans spotted Bollywood star Varun Dhawan trying to greet (and possibly snap a selfie with) none other than former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. What followed was a few seconds of polite smiles, a quick handshake… and then Khabib walking away — sparking a full-blown internet debate about whether the MMA legend just brushed Varun off!
Varun’s Short And Sweet Interaction With Khabib
Varun, who attended the UFC 321 event with his Bhediya co-star Kriti Sanon, was seen in a viral clip making his way towards Khabib, who was surrounded by fans taking selfies. After Khabib hugged another guest, he turned to greet Varun with a handshake. The actor said something to him, to which Khabib replied briefly before Varun smiled and stepped back. Khabib then posed for a quick photo with someone else and left the spot.
Take a look:
Internet Reacts
The video was shared online with the caption, “Khabib really declined a picture with a Bollywood actor,” and that was all it took for the internet to explode. Some users claimed Khabib had refused Varun’s request for a picture, while others insisted it was simply a friendly exchange.
One user wrote, “He doesn’t know him, it’s simple,” while another added, “He didn’t refuse it, he just doesn’t know who he is.” Many came to Varun’s defence, saying he didn’t even ask for a selfie in the first place. “Can clearly see he met Varun, so it’s a great achievement for him. Don’t just post nonsense,” commented a fan. Another said, “Stop making your imaginary false allegations — Varun was just there to shake hands.”
Varun’s Own Take On The UFC Night
Unbothered by the chatter, Varun seemed to have had a blast at the event. He shared pictures and clips from the evening on Instagram, writing, “Habibi. A fantastic night at the fights, UFC 321.” He also thanked his hosts in his Stories: “Thank you to his excellency @salgeziry for the incredible hospitality and the crazy UFC card. See you soon.”
On The Work Front
Varun was last seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari alongside Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, the film released on October 2. Up next, he’ll be seen in Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh, also starring Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, and Sonam Bajwa. The film hits theatres on January 22, 2026
October 28, 2025, 09:02 IST
