Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy recently opened up about his unconventional journey to professional cricket, revealing that he once worked as a junior artist in films for just ₹600 a day before finding his true calling on the cricket field. Known for his fascinating switch from architecture to cricket, Chakaravarthy shared more about his lesser-known detours into filmmaking and acting.
On Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube show ‘Kutti Stories with Ash,’ Varun recalled how, after losing his savings in Cyclone Vardha, he found himself drifting toward music and the movie industry.
“Some of my friends were working in films, so I started tagging along to shoots and observing. That’s when I heard about a movie called ‘Jeeva’ being shot in many cricket grounds,” Varun Chakrvarthy said. “I went there hoping to become an assistant director, but I couldn’t even prepare a pitch properly,” he laughed.
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When asked if he had any cricketing experience, Varun Chakravarthy admitted to playing only tennis-ball cricket. Soon, he found himself in front of the camera as a junior artist, earning ₹600 a day—an amount he says was helpful at the time.
Ashwin, always quick with his wit, jumped in to compare Varun’s early pay with what he now earns as part of India’s national team and the Kolkata Knight Riders. “I get $300 a day now,” Varun said with a smile, leaving Ashwin chuckling.
From ₹600 a day to donning India colours! 🇮🇳✨
Architect, junior artist, spin wizard — Varun Chakaravarthy built his dream brick by brick. 💙#VarunChakaravarthy #TeamIndia #DreamBig
Varun Chakaravarthy’s journey is anything but ordinary.https://t.co/juNFqsakVL
— TOI Sports (@toisports) June 30, 2025
During his stint with films, Varun Chakravarthy also tried his hand at writing scripts and directing short films. “I liked the process so much. But when I pitched my stories to a few people, they told me I was good with the emotions but couldn’t quite convert them into a screenplay,” Varun admitted.
Eventually, weekends filled with tennis-ball cricket reignited his passion for the sport. From there, he worked his way into domestic cricket before making a name as a key bowler for KKR in the IPL.
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Now 33, Varun has become a vital cog in India’s white-ball setup. He made a strong comeback this year, playing a key role in helping Rohit Sharma’s men lift the ICC Champions Trophy. His journey from the film set to cricket stadium remains one of the most remarkable stories in Indian cricket.
