Varun Chakravarthy’s Journey from Film Extra to Indian Cricketer
In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Varun Chakravarthy opened up about his early life before becoming a professional cricketer and his brief experience working in the film industry. A well-known name in Indian cricket and the IPL, Chakravarthy’s rise to fame was anything but simple.
During his 20s, he explored a variety of fields — from architecture and music to films and, eventually, cricket — before finding his true calling. Reflecting on his film days, he recounted how curiosity and creative inspiration led him to film sets.
From Film Sets to Cricket Fields
“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.”
Today, as a member of the Indian cricket team, Varun Chakravarthy receives a daily allowance of $300 — a remarkable contrast to his early earnings as a film extra. His story is a testament to persistence and self-discovery through diverse experiences.
Author’s Summary
Varun Chakravarthy’s rise from earning Rs 600 as a film extra to receiving $300 daily as an Indian cricketer illustrates how determination and adaptability can transform a career path.