Exclusive: "I lost 10kgs and turned vegetarian to look perfectly like saint Dnyaneshwar," says Varun Bhagwat

Marathi actor Varun Bhagwat is currently playing the titular role in the TV show Dnyaneshwar Mauli. The actor, who is playing a devotional character for the first time, spoke exclusively to ETimes TV and poured his heart out about his experience of working in the mythological show, leaving his corporate job, taking a break from the industry, and more.

- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar

Actor Varun revealed that he worked in Bollywood in his initial days in the industry and played a pivotal role in a movie. Varun said, "Very few know that I have played a pivotal role in a Bollywood movie Allah Ke Bandey with Naseeruddin Shah. In the movie, people who are watching me as a saint Dnyaneshwar won't believe that I had held a gun and done some action scenes because the film was based on criminals. The movie helped me to give me an identity."

I had done an MBA and later, I was doing a corporate job. I decided to stay away from the acting field because I don't like to ignore my studies and that is why I did MBA from Pune university. I left the industry after doing a few projects and shifted my entire focus to studies.

I did my MBA and quickly bagged a job in the corporate sector. I left the job and again decided to shift my focus to the acting field. I know I have done things by taking breaks but now while doing Dnyaneshwar Mauli it feels like it was all worth it.

Talking about the Dnyaneshwar Mauli project, Varun prepared a lot to play the role of the saint. Varun said, "Dnyaneshwar Maharaj was a saint. There are devotees who devote their days and nights to Maharaj and I had to look exactly like him to help build trust among the audience. I lost 10kgs. I started doing traditional exercises to look physically perfect like him. I turned vegan completely. I am still doing my best to put in my best effort."

When I went for the auditions, I auditioned for Nivruttinath's role, who is a sibling of Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Then the makers also asked me to do auditions for Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. I did the look test and then I got finalised. It was like a miracle came into my life."

- Interview by Vaishnavi Gavankar