Article 26/1 - Varun's pitch perfect act off the screen

One of the finest actors on the small screen, Varun Badola is also playing an innings of a different sort. As part of the Mumbai Heroes team, Varun will be seen in action at the Celebrity Cricket league match being held at the D.Y. Patil Stadium today. He spoke to us about cricket and acting " the two great loves of his life (apart from wife Rajeshwari Sachdev of course).

You first entered the limelight with Ekta Kapoor's TV show Koshish, back in 2000. How would you describe your journey in the time since?
I think I have had more ups and downs (in my career) than any other television actor, and those ups and downs were of my own doing. I would do a show and then take a break for a year, at times more.
But I think all of the TV shows I've done have been of some repute. Even if the shows have not run for a long time, my performances have been appreciated. So if there is any quality control, in terms of acting, then I have been able to maintain that.

Apart from acting, you've directed, written " even arranged costumes for films! What comes most naturally to you?
As far as costumes are concerned, I was a complete shipwreck! Especially since I'm someone who doesn't have a very good sense of dressing! But I was just filling in. That happened before I became an assistant director to Tigmanshu Dhulia. In fact I was shifted to direction just after one schedule, because I could write and understood filmmaking. So I did well there. Acting is what comes naturally to me, but direction is something I would love to look into.

Cricket and acting " how do you juggle both?
Basically I am a cricketer who has to act to run his house " that's how I will put it. My passion for the game is immense. Of course, after a few years I'll have to give it up and shift to something like snooker. So I'm enjoying this while I still can.

With your shows and matches, how do you manage to make time for your wife Rajeshwari and your son Devagya?
As I said, I don't really work much, so wife and kids are taken care of. Cricket happens for two-three months a year, so you have the remaining nine.

What's on the anvil this year?
I am shooting for two films in 2014; they still haven't zeroed down on the release dates. Apart from that, I am doing another show, but it's too early to talk about it.

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