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 is now a well-known name in Indian cricket and the IPL, recognized as one of India's significant recent discoveries in spin bowling. However, his path to cricket was unconventional. In his twenties, he explored various fields including architecture, music, films, and cricket before establishing himself in sports.

Early Film Industry Experience

In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Varun shared insights about his life prior to his cricket career, particularly his brief time in the film industry around the age of 25.

“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

While working as a junior artiste earning Rs 600 daily, Varun's engagement with cricket grew stronger, leading him to eventually pursue a professional career in the sport. Today, as an Indian cricketer, he receives a daily allowance of $300, marking a significant rise from his early days in the film world.

Author's summary: Varun Chakravarthy's diverse early career included a stint in films earning Rs 600 a day before he found success in cricket, now earning $300 daily as a professional player.

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

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