Breaking into Indian cricket is incredibly tough, given the fierce competition. Many talented players get limited opportunities, if any, at the highest levels. This makes the story of Varun Chakravarthy, currently considered one of India’s top white-ball spinners, particularly compelling. At 33, he only made his international debut four years ago.
From Architecture and Entrepreneurship to Cricket
Before cementing his place in India’s T20 World Cup and ODI squads, cricket wasn’t Chakravarthy’s primary career. In a candid conversation with former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Chakravarthy revealed his diverse professional background.
He initially worked as an assistant architect for a year and a half after college, earning about INR 14,000 initially, which rose to INR 18,000 by the time he left. Following this, he briefly pursued his love for music by taking up the guitar, but soon realized his motivation wasn’t genuine. He then ventured into interior design and construction with his own firm, which thrived for a year until Cyclone Vardah hit, wiping out his entire investment. This left him at around 24 or 25 years old.
A Stint in Films and a “Stunning Pay Rise”
Chakravarthy’s journey then took him to the film industry. While his initial aim was to become an Assistant Director, his background in tennis-ball cricket unexpectedly landed him a role as a junior artist in a movie called “Jeeva.” He earned INR 600 per day for this role, which he found “pretty helpful at that time.” He even tried his hand at writing scripts and directing short films, though he struggled with translating emotions into screenplays.
Fast forward to his current career as an Indian international cricketer, and the financial landscape has drastically changed. When Ashwin asked about his daily allowance, Chakravarthy shared it’s now USD 300 (approximately INR 25,652.78). This represents a staggering 4200 percent pay rise from his days as a junior artist, highlighting the remarkable transformation of his professional life.
Discussion about this post