Varun Chakravarthy once earned Rs 600 a day as a junior artiste; now receives $300 daily allowance as Indian cricketer

Varun Chakravarthy's Journey Before Cricket

Varun Chakravarthy, well-known among Indian cricket fans and IPL followers, has become one of the country's promising spinners in recent years. However, his road to cricket success was unconventional.

Early Career and Interests

In his twenties, Varun explored diverse fields such as architecture, music, films, and cricket before finally committing to cricket.

Experience in the Film Industry

On the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Varun shared his brief stint in films. At 25, he connected with people in the movie industry, often watching film shoots with his friends.

He said,

“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. I had seen some films like Varanam Aayiram and Subramaniapuram. These inspired me a lot during those days. So I felt that I could express myself through the movies. But I couldn’t make it to being an AD on set. But 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.”

Transition to Cricket

This modest daily wage marked the beginning of Varun’s professional journey, which now includes a daily allowance of $300 as an Indian cricketer, highlighting his impressive rise in the sport.

Author’s summary: Varun Chakravarthy transitioned from earning a modest Rs 600 daily as a junior artiste in films to receiving a $300 allowance playing cricket for India, showcasing his unique and inspiring career path.

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The Indian Express The Indian Express — 2025-11-06