‘Industry doesn’t encourage multi-talented artists’: Varun Badola speaks out while discussing Undekhi 4

Varun Badola (Interview footage)

The gritty crime drama Undekhi 4 promises to raise the stakes yet again, with power struggles, shifting loyalties, and dark ambitions driving the narrative forward. Actor Varun Badola, who plays a key role in the series, recently opened up about his character's mindset and the evolving dynamics in the new season during an exclusive chat with mid-day.

Varun Badola's take on Undekhi 4's revenge theory

While the show is largely being seen as a revenge saga, Varun offered a contrasting perspective on his character's motivations. He explained, "for me it's not revenge, I'm just trying to just eat up everything. So much so that once Papaji is eliminated, see I know that Rinku is the most important cog in the wheel at this point in time where I would need him to eliminate Papaji and to decimate the rest of the empire. But would I want him alive thereafter? I don't think so."

He further hinted at the unpredictability of the storyline, adding, "That would have been the plan. Obviously what happened thereafter is for all to see once the episodes get telecast. But my character is definitely not out there to take any revenge." Instead, his focus is on absolute power and control. As he put it, "I just want everything for my own self, trying to bring the Atwals onto their knees and finish them off once and for all so that I can have complete control over the businesses that earn them so much of money."

On losing out opportunities to showcase talent in early years

Beyond the show's intense narrative, Varun also reflected on the realities of working in the entertainment industry and how creative ambitions are often limited by perception. Recalling his early days, he shared, "There was a time when I started as an assistant director and I used to write. But I aspired to be an actor. The people in the industry would not take very kindly to this. What do you want to do? Do you want to be an actor, a writer, a singer or what?"

He highlighted the challenges faced by those wanting to explore multiple creative avenues, saying, "So if anyone is working with the notion that I enjoy the process of filmmaking and I want to do writing, acting and direction the problem is we were recommended to read Woody Allen's books but don't try to become one. He writes in his films, he directs in his films he acts in his films. He can do that. We actually ended up wasting a lot of time not paying attention to the other vocations."

With layered characters and complex motivations, Undekhi 4 is set to deliver a gripping mix of ambition, power, and internal conflict where not everyone is driven by revenge, but by a hunger for dominance.