Varun Badola: Did a show I disliked, it was my biggest hit

Proud to be part of Undekhi that creatively satisfies him, Varun Badola recalls how he sometimes starred in shows that brought him money but not peace of mind

Varun Badola might be the latest entrant in the cast of Undekhi, but he has been associated with the series as a dialogue writer since its origin in 2020. Shifting from behind the scenes to the screen was an easy decision for the actor. “I knew the show’s structure. Plus, Harsh [Chhaya, lead actor] and I have been friends for long. Deb [Dibyendu Bhattacharya] and I have known each other. So, I knew it’d be a comfortable zone. The character had a certain intrigue to it,” 
he smiles.

Choosing a story based on the script and characters’ merit are important to Badola, who has become a dependable actor in television and OTT. But selecting his projects is a luxury he can afford now, he points out. Earlier, there have been days when he struggled to put a meal on the table, forcing him to take up work he didn’t believe in. “There comes a time when you are worried how the next meal will come to the table. Then you pick up [projects] that you probably dislike. I’ve done that three to four times. I did one show that I disliked personally, it’s the biggest hit of my life. I earned humongous popularity from it. I did it because I had no work; it was another opportunity to earn more money. I got everything from it except peace of mind,” he recounts, referring to a popular drama.

If his three-decade career has taught him something, it’s that an artiste has to choose between bank balance and peace of mind. “You might [rarely] get both, but that’s like wishing upon a shooting star.” So, what does he have today? “I have returned from the shoot of a show, and there is a lot of peace of mind.”

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