very old interview of varun i guess @2000

Excerpts from a live chat with TV actor Varun Badola Q: How difficult was it portraying Neeraj in Koshish?
A: It needed a bit of homework. Things became simple later, perhaps because I have the knack of impersonating people.
Q: Is it difficult to impersonate people you don't identify with?
A: No. I guess I am in this field because I have no such problems. I wouldn't have been an actor if I couldn't act! The high you get while emoting, or portraying characters that are different from you is incomparable.
Q: How did you prepare yourself for the role?
A: I saw Tom Hanks in Forest Gump almost six times.
Q: Do you like your role in Koshish Ek Aasha?
A: What do you think? It's been a year, and I'm still around!
Q: Do you plan to enter movies?
A: Who doesn't!
Q: What does portraying Neeraj feel like?
A: I am very comfortable now, though that wasn't the case to begin with. I wasn't playing somebody I am or someone I knew, so I needed to identify with and learn a lot of mannerisms of the character, which was both difficult and physically tiring. However, this lasted for only the first nine episodes. It doesn't feel that way any longer.
Q: How are you treating fame?
A: I did not become an actor to vindicate any social cause. As an actor I need my share of popularity, fame and money. The thought of being famous has not really struck me as yet. Honestly, all the popularity I have got from Koshish is not enough for me - let's pray to God that I keep my head on my shoulders and use my Capricorn instincts to acquire more.
Q: Are you married?
A: Not as yet!
Q: Who is your favourite co-star in Koshish Ek Asha?
A: It's hard to say. I share a good chemistry with Sandhya, my on-screen wife and I guess she would be the obvious choice. However, Uday Tikekar, who plays my father in the serial, is brilliant. In fact doing one scene with him is more satisfying than anything one has done during the entire month. I guess everybody is equally good out there!
Q: What made you accept this role and how did you get it?
A: I had 250 bucks in my pocket and nothing in my bank account at that time, so probably my ego made me accept the role. I could have said no, because the role could have generated an image that I was not looking for. At the same time, rejecting the role would mean that I let go of a challenge. Finally, two people were short-listed and Ekta found me on the line, whereas the other person wasn't at home.
Q: Does Neeraj recover?
A: Yes he does!
Q: What are the other projects you are working on?
A: There's Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan, on Zee TV.
Q: How do you handle the different characters you portray?
A: By trying to think like the character.
Q: Which do you prefer acting or directing?
A: Both the art forms have their own charm. A director has the freedom to do a variety of things, including playing with characters. An actor is allowed this liberty only if he has the leeway by the director. At the same time, acting gives you unmatched popularity in India. Also, executing a character is far more satisfying than sitting on a chair and being judgemental about it. At the same time, if I hhad the choice I would like to both.
Q: Would you expect your wife to act the way Kajal did if you were in Neeraj's shoes?
A: Who wouldn't want to be treated the way Neeraj is treated by Kajal!?!
Q: Do you think it is right to get a girl to marry a mentally challenged person?
A:If it weren't, Koshish would have never happened!
Q: How do you manage to make that funny expression in Koshish Ek Asha?
A: I put cotton balls in my mouth and try to pull my face up.
Q: Were you apprehensive about taking on a woman-dominated serial?
A: No, the thought never crossed my mind. The character itself was so strong that it would have found a place for itself.
Q: How was it working with Sandhya, she is a fabulous actress?
A: It was an extraordinary feeling. She is definitely a fabulous actress.
Q: Do you think that Mihir's death in Kyo Ki Saas... was a trick to increase the viewership?
A: No. Kyon ki... was doing well anyways. Mihir's death wouldn't have made much of a difference.
Q: Are you attracted to Sandhya? She is quite beautiful.
A: Apart from the fact that she has a boyfriend, I'm just there to do my job. She is beautiful and I appreciate having good-looking people around me. However, if I started falling in love with or getting attracted to every second woman, I end up making life difficult for myself because Mumbai has a hot crowd!
Q: Do you have a godfather?
A: In fact I have two godfathers. The first is my father who taught me the basics of acting. The second is Tigmanshu Dhulia, the person I assisted for the last 4 years. He has taught me everything I know about filmmaking.