Varun Chakravarthy: From Junior Artiste to Indian Cricketer
Varun Chakravarthy, now a well-known spinner in Indian cricket and the IPL, shared his unusual journey before joining professional sports in a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash. His path to cricket was far from direct, moving through architecture, music, and even films before fully committing to the game.
Early Life and Career Shift
In his mid-20s, Varun explored several creative fields, including a short-lived attempt to work in the Tamil film industry. At 25, his curiosity led him to film sets, where he initially hoped to become an assistant director.
“I started hanging out with the movie guys in my group. We used to watch the shooting of films. One day, I got to know that this cricket movie 'Jeeva' was being shot in many cricket stadiums. So I went to the location, thinking I would try to be an assistant director.”
He shared that films like Varanam Aayiram and Subramaniapuram deeply influenced him and inspired a desire for self-expression through cinema. However, when he couldn’t secure a position as an assistant director, an unexpected opportunity came his way.
“One day on set, an AD came up to me and offered me a part as a junior artiste, asking if I knew how to play cricket. The salary was Rs 600 per day. That was pretty helpful at that time.”
From Film Sets to Cricket Fields
Varun’s short stint in films gave him a glimpse into a different world before he eventually realigned his focus toward cricket, where his talent and persistence have made him a key figure. Today, he receives a daily allowance of $300 as part of the Indian cricket team—an inspiring sign of how far he has come.
Author’s Summary
From earning Rs 600 a day as a junior artiste to representing India with a $300 daily allowance, Varun Chakravarthy’s journey is a rare blend of creativity, persistence, and reinvention.