"I'm more of a bowling-all-rounder" Varun Badola

Varun Badola is tired and bored of talking about his shows and acting. It's not that he's tired of his profession but just that we caught him in a mood when he was keen on chatting only about sports and especially cricket. Now we all know that the suave actor is a part of the Boxy Boyz gang. Here he briefs us about his team and more in a very sporty chat with Mayur lookhar. How did you join Boxy Boyz? Well, I've been playing cricket with my friends in Tellywood for a long time. It was last year, that while we were playing at Cross maidan when we discussed that why not have a sports club of our own. Which other games do you play? Cricket is my passion but I play badminton too. However, I must confess that I've hardly played football. Have you played at a competitive level? Well, I have played for my college team in Delhi. The likes of Ajay Jadeja, Murli Kartik and Deep Daspugupta graduated from my college. So, are you a batsman, bowler or an all-rounder? I'm more of a bowling-all-rounder. I bowl at around 120kph. In the past, I use to bowl over 125kph but putting in those extra yards takes its toll on my body. Usually, I bat in the lower middle order but if we lose our openers quickly, I'm sent in to block one end. I'm a defensive batsman like Dravid. Who are the players to watch out? Well, most of them are very talented. Shabir Ahluwalia is a tear away bowler with a round-arm action. He's got a pretty unique run-up. He takes 5-6 gentle steps and then charges on to the bowling crease. I reckon, he bowls around 130kph. Indraniel Sengupta is our wicket-keeper. I must tell that his batting style is pretty similar to Azharuddin. Manav Gohil is our hard hitting opening batsman. There are others like Raja Merwani, who was in the Gujarat reserves, when Sachin Tendulkar made his 'First-class' debut. Who is the captain? We haven't appointed a permanent captain as yet. The likes of Vikas Sethi, Manav Gohil and Salil Ankola have all donned the captain's hat. Will you hire a coach in near future? We do have a bowling coach. I can't recollect his name now. He's a left-arm spinner. In near future, we may hire a permanent coach. How much time do you devote to practice? We couldn't practice during the monsoons. Earlier, we practised for two hours on four days a week. Four days! Does that mean you'll have cut down on your work? No. We've always practiced in the morning. We usually begin at 7.30 am. Are you pleased that you'll be playing a negative role in Ghar Ek Sapna? It's not for the first time that I'll be playing a negative role. In the later half of Des Main Nikla Hoga Chaand, I was playing a negative character. I'm happy playing any character. You played a negative role in the film Charas and performed really well. Surprisingly, we didn't see much of you after that. Why? I don't have an answer myself. Does that mean you haven't got any new offers from Bollywood? None. (Now that's what you call an honest reply) Be it acting or dancing, it's the intensity which you put in your work that always catches the eye.How do you manage to keep this intensity level high? As an actor, it's a part of my profession. After all, that's what I get paid for. Be it acting, dancing or playing sports, I've always given my 100 percent. Finally, few years ago you had come to a cookery show where you confessed to being an occasional cook. Has that changed after marriage? I'm still an occasional cook. Usually, I stay away from the kitchen. However, I'd like to say that I'm very good at making kheer. His Man Friday on the sets tells him that the food is ready. So, I'll let him savor his meal.