Varun Badola on playing an alcoholic, unreliable father in Sony SAB’s Itti Si Khushi
“I had to first forgive the character to play him on screen”; Varun Badola on playing an alcoholic, unreliable father in Sony SAB’s Itti Si Khushi
City Air News
Jul 23, 2025 03:19
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Sony SAB’s upcoming show Itti Si Khushi has struck a chord with audiences even before its launch. The recently released promo is garnering praise from viewers and industry peers alike for its moving portrayal of resilience, responsibility, and emotional complexities within a fractured family.
The role of Suhas Divekar is brought to life by acclaimed actor Varun Badola and Suhas is far from a conventional father figure. He’s charming but absent, loving yet unreliable, a man who numbs his pain with alcohol and denial. It’s this complexity that drew Varun to the role and the emotional toll of portraying such a flawed yet endearing character.
Speaking about stepping into the shoes of such a layered character, Varun Badola shares, “If Suhas had been a straightforward character, just an alcoholic and good-for-nothing, it would’ve been easier to understand and portray. It’s very easy to make such a character look like a villain. But the brief I received was very clear: no matter what he does or how he behaves, Suhas must remain lovable. That’s where the complexity lies, and that’s what made it so exciting. One wrong step and Suhas could easily come across as negative. To keep him endearing, you have to accept him as he is. And as an actor, somewhere deep inside, I had to forgive him first to play his character onscreen. That’s not easy. With every scene I read, there were moments I found myself disliking him, questioning his choices. And honestly, out of all the shows I’ve done, this is probably one of the most challenging roles I’ve taken up. But yes, Suhas is a beautifully written character, and I truly hope I do justice to the role.”
