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Time of India
2 days 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
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Varun Grover's shocking confession about working with top Bollywood star: He got Rs 45 lakh for speaking what I wrote for Rs 45,000
Varun Grover , now an acclaimed writer and filmmaker known for projects like Masaan, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, and All India Rank , began his career in India's television and comedy circuit. Before making his mark in cinema, he worked as a writer for popular shows such as The Great Indian Comedy Show and Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun. However, it was his stint on the celebrity talk show Oye! It's Friday! , hosted by Farhan Akhtar, that made him question the industry's treatment of writers. During an interview with The Lallantop , Grover revealed how he became aware of the glaring pay gap between performers and writers. He recalled that while Akhtar was reportedly paid Rs 45 lakh per episode, he earned only Rs 45,000 for writing the same material that he had written. The Shocking Pay Gap Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Grover admitted he had some prior understanding of the earnings disparity but never imagined it would be so vast. He stated that while the actor merely delivered the lines he wrote, the compensation difference was staggering. 'It was my material, and he was just delivering the lines. There wasn't 100 times the value added,' he remarked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More The lavish production of the show further highlighted the imbalance. Shot at Yash Raj Studios, the set was extravagant, with props so costly that Grover joked, 'Had I stolen one of those twinkling balls hanging there each day, my daily Rs 45,000 would've been sorted.' The contrast between the show's budget and his earnings left a lasting impression on him. Growing Disillusionment with Television Beyond financial disparities, Grover also expressed frustration with the lack of creative freedom in television. He mentioned that increasing censorship and the diminishing value of a writer's contribution led him to lose interest in the medium. 'By then, I had also lost interest in writing stand-up for television, particularly since censorship had also started,' he said. This experience played a crucial role in his decision to shift focus from television to films and independent projects, where he felt his work was more respected. Grover's revelations shed light on the systemic undervaluation of writers in the entertainment industry. Despite being the backbone of content creation, writers often receive minimal credit and compensation compared to on-screen talent.
