 Solution

Treat $\varphi$ and ${\varphi }^{\ast }$ as independent variables in the Euler-Lagrange equations. Write $s={\varphi }^{\ast }\varphi$, and assume the scalar potential $f(s)$ is real and differentiable. Variation with respect to ${\varphi }^{\ast }$ givesConsequently the equations for the complex scalar field and its complex conjugate areNo polynomial assumption is needed: only the first derivative of the scalar potential enters. For $f(s)=m^{2}s$, both reduce to the free Klein-Gordon equation.