Latest news with #Oye!It'sFriday!
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who Is Varun Grover? From IIT Graduate to acclaimed writer, lyricist & more
The well-known Indian screenwriter, lyricist, comedian, and filmmaker, has been in the news recently for his comments on the stark pay gap between actors and writers in Indian television, specifically recalling his experience writing for Farhan Akhtar 's talk show Oye! It's Friday! in 2009. Here let's take a look at everything you should know about Varun Grover . Born on January 26, 1980, in Sundernagar (Himachal Pradesh), Varun Grover has steadily built a reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in Indian entertainment. Whether he's penning lyrics that connect emotionally or crafting screenplays with quiet depth, Varun Grover has carved his own path, one that includes stand-up sets that hit as hard with truth as they do with humour. Born to a schoolteacher mother and an army engineer father, Grover moved across towns, Sundernagar, Dehradun, and eventually Lucknow, soaking in different cultures and stories along the way. Though he graduated as a civil engineer from IIT-BHU in 2003 and briefly worked in software consulting, it wasn't long before the pull of storytelling took over. By 2004, he had packed up and moved to Mumbai, chasing the words he truly wanted to write. Varun Grover's Breakthrough and Creative Journey As reported by IMDB, it was 2005 when Varun Grover first stepped behind the curtain of television comedy, joining The Great Indian Comedy Show as a staff writer. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo On paper, the role looked modest, just another line on a fledgling résumé, but the experience quietly rewired his creative compass. Those writers'-room sessions honed his timing, sharpened his voice, and set the stage for everything he would tackle next, from acclaimed screenplays to razor-edged stand-up sets. From that writers' room, Grover began carving out a path that would eventually see him become one of Indian entertainment's most distinct voices, someone who could make you laugh, think, and feel, often all at once. After that he's been part of films including 'Masaan', 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar', and 'All India Rank'. A Voice That's Unafraid to Speak Up Varun Grover doesn't fit neatly into any one box. Yes, he's a screenwriter and lyricist, but above all, he's a keen observer of the world around him. His songs often carry a quiet intensity, while his stand-up is laced with wit that cuts deep, always rooted in real-life contradictions and ironies. There's no effort to sugarcoat or play safe. His work feels lived-in, thoughtful, and often deeply personal. What makes Grover stand out is that rare balance, he can stir emotions and spark reflection, without ever losing the lightness or sharpness that makes his voice so compelling. And in an industry where writers are too often left in the background, he's one of the few who openly calls for fairness and recognition, making sure the people behind the words aren't forgotten. Speaking Up About the Pay Gap In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Grover recalled a moment from early in his career that revealed just how wide the pay gap is between actors and writers. While working on the talk show Oye! It's Friday! hosted by Farhan Akhtar, he discovered that the host was reportedly paid ₹45 lakh per episode, while Grover, one of the show's writers, earned ₹45,000. 'It was a shock,' he admitted, acknowledging that even though the figures might not be exact, the disparity was undeniable. That moment stayed with him, reinforcing the need for a conversation around fair compensation for writers, something he continues to champion today. While working on Oye! It's Friday!, a high-profile show hosted by Farhan Akhtar, Grover said he learned about the massive gap between what writers and actors are paid. 'I heard the host was earning ₹45 lakh per episode, while I was getting ₹45,000,' he recalled. Though he admits that the numbers might not be exact, the disparity was glaring and hard to ignore. It's an issue he continues to speak about, bringing attention to the often-overlooked role of writers in entertainment. While working on the television show Oye! It's Friday! hosted by Farhan Akhtar, Grover realized the vast difference between what actors and writers earn.'I found out the actor was earning ₹45 lakh per episode, while I, as a writer, was being paid just ₹45,000,' he revealed. Though he acknowledged that the figure could have been exaggerated to provoke him, the incident left a lasting impression. It also brought into focus the longstanding debate about fair compensation for creators behind the scenes in Indian entertainment. Anurag Kashyap faces backlash for his viral pics with Sandeep Reddy Vanga
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'Farhan Akhtar Got Rs 45 Lakh, I Earned Rs 45,000': Why Varun Grover Quit Writing For Stars
Varun Grover recalls writing for Farhan Akhtar's show, revealing a shocking pay gap and why he stopped creating stand-up content for TV and movie stars. Varun Grover may now be recognised for his acclaimed work as a filmmaker and writer, but his journey began much earlier in India's television and comedy circuit. Before gaining praise for films like Masaan, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, and his directorial debut All India Rank, Grover worked behind the scenes as a comedy writer on several TV shows. Among his early gigs was writing for popular shows like The Great Indian Comedy Show and Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun. But one particular experience made him rethink writing for television altogether — his time on Oye! It's Friday!, a celebrity talk show hosted by Farhan Akhtar. 'After Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun, I joined Farhan saab's Oye! It's Friday! It was during my time there that I realised that there was not much value addition happening from the side of the performer to the material I was writing for them," Grover shared in an interview with The Lallantop. He recalled the moment he learned just how wide the earnings gap was between performers and writers. 'That was also the first time I got to know how much actors make doing such shows. Even though I had an idea prior to that as well, I did not assume the gap to be so big. But once I learnt about it – maybe it's false information and somebody told me this only to provoke me; I can't say for sure – I realised the gap was huge. He was being paid Rs 45 lakh for each episode, while I was earning just Rs 45,000." Grover said the contrast between effort and reward felt unfair, especially when the material was entirely his. 'It was my material, and he was just delivering the lines. (Although he's getting paid 100 times more) There wasn't 100 times the value added." He also spoke about the scale of production, revealing how lavish the set was. 'The show was shot in Yash Raj Studio. It was a really good, expensive set. Had I stolen one of those twinkling balls hanging there each day, my daily Rs 45,000 would've been sorted. That was the first time I saw such a dazzling set." Eventually, the glam, the imbalance, and growing restrictions pushed him away from the format. 'By then, I had also lost interest in writing stand-up for television, particularly since censorship had also started." Grover's reflection offers a candid look into the often-unspoken struggles of writers in entertainment — underpaid, undervalued, and frequently overshadowed by star power. First Published: June 10, 2025, 14:06 IST
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Farhan Akhtar earned Rs 45 lakh per episode for saying jokes written by me, I got only Rs 45 thousand,' says Varun Grover as he realised the pay disparity between actors and writers
Varun Grover is a wellknown screenwriter, lyricist known for projects like 'All India Rank', 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar', 'Masaan' and more. He's also known for being a stand-up comedian and during the start of his career, he also worked for television shows. He had worked as a scriptwriter on 'Oye! It's Friday!' which was hosted by Farhan Akhtar . That's when he realised the pay disparity between an actor and writer. He said during an interview with The Lallantop, "After Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun, I joined Farhan saab's Oye! It's Friday! It was during my time there that I realised that there was not much value addition happening from the side of the performer to the material I was writing for them. That was also the first time I got to know how much actors make doing such shows. Even though I had an idea prior to that as well, I did not assume the gap to be so big. But once I learnt about it – maybe it's false information and somebody told me this only to provoke me; I can't say for sure – I realised the gap was huge. He was being paid Rs 45 lakh for each episode, while I was earning just Rs 45,000." He added further that he got paid so less despite the fact that the show was mounted on a huge budget, the set was so extravagant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The props on the set costed the amount which he was getting paid. He said, "It was my material, and he was just delivering the lines. (Although he's getting paid 100 times more) There wasn't 100 times the value added. The show was shot in Yash Raj Studio. It was a really good, expensive set. Had I stolen one of those twinkling balls hanging there each day, my daily Rs 45,000 would've been sorted. That was the first time I saw such a dazzling set. By then, I had also lost interest in writing stand-up for television, particularly since censorship had also started.' In the same interview, Varun also clarified about his comment, 'NO' which he dropped on Anurag Kashyap 's post praising Sandeep Reddy Vanga after 'Animal'.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Farhan Akhtar earned Rs 45 lakh for saying jokes I wrote for Rs 45,000': Varun Grover recalls moment of clarity that made him quit TV
After contributing to quite a few films as a lyricist, Varun Grover made his debut as a screenwriter with Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan (2015). Although the movie opened to widespread acclaim, it took Varun a few more years to establish himself further. During this time, he emerged as one of India's most popular stand-up comics. With his recent outings such as Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, All India Rank (which also marked his directorial debut) and Superboys of Malegaon earning positive responses, he has managed to establish himself as a bankable film writer who prioritises substance over glitz, a quality fast vanishing from Bollywood. During his initial days, he also served as a writer on several hit shows like The Great Indian Comedy Show and Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun. Recently, Varun Grover opened up about his experience working as a writer on the Farhan Akhtar-hosted talk show 'Oye! It's Friday!' Maintaining that the actor earned 100 times more than he did using the material he created, and that, too, without any value addition, Varun shared that he decided not to write stand-up material for movie stars anymore after that. 'After Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun, I joined Farhan saab's Oye! It's Friday! It was during my time there that I realised that there was not much value addition happening from the side of the performer to the material I was writing for them. That was also the first time I got to know how much actors make doing such shows. Even though I had an idea prior to that as well, I did not assume the gap to be so big. But once I learnt about it – maybe it's false information and somebody told me this only to provoke me; I can't say for sure – I realised the gap was huge. He was being paid Rs 45 lakh for each episode, while I was earning just Rs 45,000,' he shared during a chat with The Lallantop. He further mentioned that even the set on which the talk show was shot was so extravagant that some of the props cost as much as his remuneration per episode. Varun noted, 'It was my material, and he was just delivering the lines. (Although he's getting paid 100 times more) There wasn't 100 times the value added. The show was shot in Yash Raj Studio. It was a really good, expensive set. Had I stolen one of those twinkling balls hanging there each day, my daily Rs 45,000 would've been sorted. That was the first time I saw such a dazzling set. By then, I had also lost interest in writing stand-up for television, particularly since censorship had also started.'
