Varun Grover, known for films like Masaan, All India Rank, and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, recently spoke about the early days of his career and the harsh realities of the entertainment industry. During his time as a scriptwriter on Oye! It’s Friday!—a celebrity talk show hosted by Farhan Akhtar—Grover realized the massive difference in earnings between writers and actors. While he was paid ₹45,000 per episode, the host reportedly earned ₹45 lakh for saying the jokes Grover wrote. This made him question the value placed on writing versus performance.
Extravagant Sets and Low Pay
Grover highlighted the irony of working on a high-budget show shot at the prestigious Yash Raj Studios. The props on set alone, he joked, cost as much as his entire pay. He said the set was so lavish that even stealing a decoration item could have made up for his paycheck. Despite writing all the material, he felt there was little justification for the 100-times pay difference between him and the performer delivering those lines.
Disillusionment with TV Comedy
After that experience, Grover said he gradually lost interest in writing comedy for television. His dissatisfaction grew further due to increasing censorship in the industry, which made it harder to express creativity freely.
Clarifying His Stand on Sandeep Reddy Vanga Controversy
Grover also addressed the backlash around his brief “NO” comment on filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s social media post praising Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. He clarified that he wasn’t opposing the film itself but objected to defending the filmmaker’s personal conduct. According to Grover, he’s always focused on ideas—never for or against any individual. He believes there’s a difference between supporting art and endorsing the artist’s behavior.
Ideas Over Individuals
Throughout the interview, Grover reiterated his belief in critiquing ideas rather than personalities. He stressed that while artistic works, even if controversial, deserve discussion, the public must draw a line when it comes to justifying personal actions or ideology through those works.
A Voice for Writers and Independent Thinkers
Grover’s reflections shed light on the challenges faced by writers in a star-driven entertainment industry. His views also underline the importance of separating personal admiration from critical thought—both in cinema and public discourse.
Varun Grover discusses the stark pay disparity between writers and actors in the entertainment industry, his disillusionment with TV comedy due to low pay and censorship, and clarifies his stance on the Sandeep Reddy Vanga controversy, emphasizing the importance of critiquing ideas over individuals.
