varun badola interview

Our last week celebrity guest was prominent TV actor Varun Badola. Though his stints on TV shows have been more known from the time of his powerful portrayal of a mentally-disabled person in TV serial Koshish' by Balaji Telefilms but now he has moved into films. He worked in many popular serials like Astitva... Ek Prem Kahani' Kutumb', Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand' and Ye Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan' among others. His fame on TV reached its pinnacle with his enigmatic dance performance in Nach Baliye Season 1 in which he had participated with his beautiful wife Rajeshawari Sachdev. Interestingly he had performed in the show without any knowledge, interest or inclination for dance but still he had won hearts of the audience.

In his own words he is only a professional actor but his passion lies in cricket. No wonder he is regularly seen on Celebrity Cricket League as a member of the Mumbai Heroes team. Besides acting, he is well versed in cinematography and script writing and is son of acclaimed actor Vishwa Mohan Badola. The readers of Join Films have sent us many questions and we thank all his fans and our readers for their support and love to this section.

So here's Varun's very frank opinion on acting, dance, cricket, reality shows and what is required to be successful in media industry in his own words.

Tell us when did you decided to do acting?

Before choosing acting as my profession, I actually tried my luck in various things though I had clearly decided quiet early in my life what all things I will not do. So before actually venturing into acting, I tried my hands on several things. Sometimes it takes ages to basically understand what you really want to do. I was in Delhi earlier. I tried editing, post production and I was also very much interested in photography and cinematography.

I also thought about joining FTII. But when I came to know that only science graduates can join FTII in Cinematography, I decided to drop the idea as I was not a Science student. When I came to Mumbai, I came to know that even while assisting a director you can become a cameraman. But, among all the choices...Yes acting was definitely my original calling. Also since acting is in my blood (my father was also a well known artist) so eventually I decided to go for acting.

Tell us about your early days and struggle in Mumbai?

I came to Mumbai at the age of 22, before that I had done some theater in Delhi. My first role in theater was extremely short one but I played it with perfection and later on I thought that the only thing I can do is acting. Since my brother-in-law and sister had just started a production company in Mumbai at the same time, I did not have to struggle much in my early days.

First, I started as costume coordinator, since I'm someone who doesn't have a very good sense of dressing, I was just filling in and passing my days. After spending 8-10 days I got a small role to play in a 3-4 minutes scene. After that I became an assistant director to Tigmanshu Dhulia. In fact I was shifted to Direction just after one schedule as I had interest in writing and understanding of film making.

You look very natural while acting. Is it because you know about action, direction and writing?

Yes, to a great extent... that's true. My cameraman never ever had to give any instructions to me or ask me to stand or sit while shooting. But, it's equally true that once you start acting you can't focus on such things, you have to concentrate on your character. The other thing is, I never had any formal training in acting so automatically my USP was to be natural while acting. You can say that being natural is something which is in-built.

You are active in cricket also how you manage both ends?

Basically I am a cricketer who has to act to run his house that's how I will put it. I'm immensely passionate about this game. So I'm enjoying this while I still can.

What are your future plans?

I want to act in more films; I am shooting for two films in 2014. Apart from that, I will be doing another show, but it's too early to talk about it. At the same time I'm ready to do anything from acting, direction and writing.

Tell us something about your experiences in CCL?

Well... the first thing here is that boys get to be the boys. And the second thing is cricket used to be my passion which I was not able to pursue for long time and finally at Celebrity Cricket League I got some opportunity to connect with the game and also playing the game with my Industry friends especially with actors of different film industries that also give me an opportunity to interact with them.

Who is your favorite star, be in TV or film Industry?

Well, there is no one as such. In fact I never claimed that someone is my favorite star.It depends on the film and performance of the actor. If the film is good and the actor has performed well that would be mine favorite actor.

Have you moved to Films from TV?

There is nothing like that as such. But yes, working in films makes you feel composed and gives you a kind of assuredness while working in daily soaps demand lot of time and right now it's not easy for me to work in day-night schedule. Films have also given me satisfaction.

What is your favorite time pass?

Many of my favorite time pass have now simply vanished with the passage of time. I enjoyed riding but heavy traffic in Mumbai roads has taken toll on this hobby too. If I get respite from work, I try to listen to some music, which you can say is now my favorite time pass.

Have you ever worked with your father and what was your experience working with him?

Yes, we have worked in a show named Ek Chabbhi Hai Pados Mein, in which my real father played the role of my reel father. I had played role of an adopted son. Though the relationship and roles performed by both of us in the show was very different to what we normally share in real life and living together. But we managed to create the distinction as we were able to live in our given characters perfectly while performing.

What is your take on reality shows flooding on TV?

Well, personally I don't like them much, especially now. But if there is any singing or dancing reality show worth watching I may see it. Like I do watch reality show Dance India Dance as sometimes you get to see some amazing new latent talents. I prefer only such sort of reality shows.

How was your experience in Nach Baliye and what made you go there?

When I participated in Nach Baliye it was a new concept and happened to be first of its kind at that time. Neither participants nor the organizers of the show knew about it much. Though I was not keen in dancing but since my wife is a professional dancer and loves dancing, I decided to participate in it thinking that it will somehow satisfy her passion for dancing and even if we exit early in that case too she would be able to showcase her talent.

We came to know that you proposed your wife in 7 different ways, how did you do that?

Basically, I had to act in a closed room because we had already decided that we will marry. But my wife asked me to propose her in 7 different ways. It was an extremely personal moment and proposing her in 7 ways was quiet difficult for me. Later I was the one who actually revealed to others about my various ways of proposal.

How did you meet your wife Rajeshwari Sachdeva?

We knew each other and used to have informal chit-chat given that both of us are actors. Those meeting were all casual. I started acting around 2000 and before that Rajeshwari had already received National Award. We met formally in 2004 when we did a tele-film Phir Se,' where we got a chance to spend time with each other for 6-8 days. During this time our love blossomed and finally we decided to marry.

Most TV shows these days are women-centric do you think any change will happen in near future?

If Indian women start going to office and men start doing daily household chores, only then I see any change happening in the current scenario. Yes, many women nowadays go to office that is one thing but if you want a complete change then it should be entire role -reversal, where all men give up their jobs and start living and working in the houses like house wives.

What are your tips and advises for upcoming talents and how they should cop up with the pressure?

I believe that pressure is nothing but our own creation. You can take as much pressure on yourself as you want to create, which is not pragmatic. And the second thing is whatever your aim is, it should always be straight and right. If you want to stay long in this industry you have to deliver your performance.

Keeping yourself physically fit is also very much required these days. If you watch movies for learning acting tips by devoting your entire day, you just don't watch movies for the sake of watching. You have to follow and implement that in your acting. Merely watching and praising the film and actors' performance won't fetch you anything. It will keep you where you are now. How you handle your growth is also very important.

Thanks a lot for giving your precious time; we wish you all success for your future endeavors.

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