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 Fame

Varun Chakravarthy, now a well-known name in Indian cricket and the IPL, had an unconventional career path that included stints in architecture, music, and the film industry before establishing himself in cricket.

Early Career and Film Industry Experience

In a candid conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Varun Chakravarthy shared details about his time in the film world when he was 25 years old.

“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.”

Inspired by films like Varanam Aayiram and Subramaniapuram, he hoped to express himself through movies. However, he did not succeed in becoming an assistant director on set.

Junior Artiste Role and Earnings

“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.”

Today, as an Indian cricketer, Varun receives a daily allowance of $300, marking a significant change from his early days in the film industry.

Summary

Varun Chakravarthy’s varied early experiences, from movies to architecture, shaped his unique journey to success in cricket, where he now enjoys a much-improved livelihood.

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

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