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

Varun Badola

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."