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

Varun Chakravarthy’s Journey from Films to Cricket

Varun Chakravarthy, known today as a rising star in Indian cricket and the IPL, once led a very different life. Before establishing himself in sports, he explored various fields including architecture, music, and films during his twenties.

Life Before Cricket

In a candid conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Varun shared insights about his early ambitions and experiences outside cricket.

Film Industry Experience

At 25, Varun spent some time in the film industry. He explained:

“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.”

From Rs 600 Daily to $300 Allowance

While the junior artiste salary of Rs 600 daily was a modest beginning, Varun eventually made a transition into cricket where he now receives a daily allowance of $300, reflecting his progress and success in the sport.

“That was pretty helpful at that time.”

Author’s Summary

Varun Chakravarthy’s journey highlights perseverance, showing how diverse early experiences shaped his path to becoming a valued Indian cricketer.

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

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