Varun Badola on The Idea of Rebooting ‘Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand’: ‘Nobody on TV Has Yet Achieved The Chemistry Sangeeta and I Had’

It has been over three decades for Varun Badola in the entertainment industry, and the actor has worked across film, TV and streaming mediums. The actor, who is also a writer and director, is one half of one of the iconic on-screen pairs of Indian television. He was Dev to Sangeeta Ghosh’s Pammi on Star Plus’ “Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand,” and their chemistry was lightning in a bottle.

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During an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Badola takes a trip down nostalgia lane and explains why the series achieved the mass popularity that it did, despite being a simple, straightforward love story.

“‘Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand’ was a regular love story. I would say it was probably bolder than the other romantic shows because both Sangeeta and I were told, ‘We need some sizzling chemistry between the two.’ Obviously, we could only do whatever we could within the restricted parameters. 

But because Sangeeta and I were very dear friends and comfortable in each other's company, the chemistry, as they say, really worked. For the longest time, people thought that Sangeeta and I were a couple. So, though it is a very simple girl-meets-boy story, it found favor with the audiences because of the ease that Sangeeta and I had with each other on screen.”

When asked how he would feel if the show were rebooted for current times, and who he would consider worthy of being cast as Dev and Pammi, the actor says, “Yeah, if you want to reboot it, you can. But the fact is, you need people who can translate into those characters. Rather, if that synergy is lacking, then whether you remake ‘Des…’ or ‘Laila Majnu,’ it won’t work. The scenario has eased a lot on television over the last 20 years. But I am told that nobody has reached close to that kind of chemistry on television even now.” 

Varun Badola was recently seen in SonyLIV’s “Undekhi” Season 4, in which he plays Rajveer Malhotra, estranged brother and rival to Harsh Chhaya's Papaji.