‘DELHI KI SKYLINE KABHI NAHIN BADALNI CHAHIYE’
tryst with Varun Badola reminisces his Dilli days, theatre and how the city will always be home
Delhi is always a notch higher than other places when it comes to literature and culture. VARUN BADOLA, Actor
His quest to make it big in showbiz may have taken him to Mumbai, but Varun Badola is a true Delhiite at heart. The Mere Dad Ki Dulhan actor, who recently visited the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts to be a part of Jashn-eAdab — an art, culture and literary festival — recalls his Dilli days, what’s changed and what should never change.
‘DELHI IS HOME, MUMBAI IS OFFICE’
A lot has changed about the city, says Badola. “Delhi ki kaifiyat aur tabiyat toh badli hai, but I feel skyline kabhi nahin badalni chahiye. Also, its identity of gulmohar trees... Ab waisa kuch raha nahin. But no matter what, Delhi is my home and Mumbai is my office,” he adds.
‘WOH DIN BHI KYA DIN THE’
Having tasted the Delhi University vibe during his graduation days at PGDAV College, Badola can’t help but recall the good ol’ days: “College ka ground yaad hai mujhe, classes bahot zyada yaad nahin hai. Aadmi ko wahi cheezein yaad rehti hain jahan wo jaata tha (laughs).”
During his college days, the actor got himself enrolled at the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), but along the way, realised that IT wasn’t his cup of tea. “Wahan pe maine kaafi kuch padhke, bina kuch seekhe do saal nikaale, which made me realise I am not cut out for IT at all. By this time, I also started doing plays. I still remember, the very first [play] was with NK Sharma (theatre director), in Act 1,” he says.
‘THEATRE ACTORS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING’
Badola, 49, was never part of any plays or societies in his growing-up years. But, once he forayed into theatre, that was it. “We were doing a play, Qissa Hakim Sahab Ka, and one of my friends was leaving by the time I reached. Later that night, she called looking for me and I told her this is how we do plays. Everybody knows what they are doing. If your call time is 4pm and you reach at 4.05pm, you’re asked to go home,” he says.