A self-proclaimed cat lover, ❤️, Varun Grover is a versatile artist whose creative genius spans the realms of writing, stand-up comedy, poetry, and filmmaking. Renowned for his beautiful poetry, sharp wit, social commentary, and ability to blend humour and sarcasm with contemporary serious issues.
In general, even when I’m not doing political comedy, I want to be clever and find the least confrontational way to say the most offensive things.
Varun Grover
Varun Grover was born on January 26, 1980, in Sundernagar, Himachal Pradesh, India. He grew up in a middle-class family, with his mother being a school teacher and his father an army engineer. Varun spent his early years in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and Sundernagar before moving to Lucknow for his adolescent years. He pursued civil engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, graduating in 2003. Varun’s interest in films was influenced by his grandfather, who designed posters for a cinema hall in Jagadhri.
Varun’s journey to fame began when he moved to Mumbai in 2004 to pursue a career in writing. His first significant break came with “The Great Indian Comedy Show” in 2005, where he was one of the six staff writers. This experience helped him discover his flair for stand-up comedy writing, which later led him to perform stand-up comedy himself.
In 2006 he wrote dialogues for Saket Choudhary’s “Ghoom,” followed by Mahesh Nair’s “Accident on Hill Road,” after 3 years in 2009. He got a chance to write a song in Anurag Kashyap’s “That Girl in Yellow Boots.”
His breakthrough came with “Gangs of Wasseypur” (2012), where he wrote songs like “Jiya Tu,” “Hunter,” “Womaniya,” “Humni Ke Chhodi Ke,” “Soona Kar Ke Gharwa,” “Chhi Chha Ledar,” “Kaala Rey,” “Taar Bijli,” “Aabroo,” “Moora,” and “Keh Ke Loonga.” The success of the film established him as one of the most promising talents of the industry.
Primarily recognised as a lyricist, he has penned soulful and socially relevant songs for acclaimed films like “Ankhon Dekhi (2014), “Masaan” (2015), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Udta Punjab (2016), Newton (2017), Kaala (2018), Sui Dhaaga (2018), Sonchiriya (2019), Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (2021), RRR (2022), Badhaai Do (2022), Monica, O My Darling (2022), Qala (2022), Dunki (2023), Merry Christmas (2024), All India Rank (2024), Jigra(2024), and Superboys Of Malegaon (2025).
In 2015, he won the National Film Awards for Best Lyrics for the soulful “Moh Moh Ke Dhage” in “Dum Laga Ke Haisha.” Some of his notable songs include “Aaj Laagi Laagi Nai Dhoop” and “Yaad Saari Baari Baari” (Ankhon Dekhi), “Dard Karaara,” and “Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ (Dum Laga Ke Haisha). “Mann Kasturi” and “Tu Kisi Rail Si (based on poem by Dushyant Kumar) (Masaan), “Jabra Fan (Fan),” “Tu Sachcha (Raman Raghav 2.0),” “Ud-Daa Punjab (Udta Punjab),” “Panchhi Ud Gaya Panchhi Ud Gaya (Newton),” “Chaav Laaga,” and “Tu Hi Aham,” (Sui Dhaaga),” “Ruan Ruan Roshan Hua (Sonchiriya),” “Hum Rang Hain (Badhaai Do),” “Bikharne Ka Mujhko Shauq Hai Bada (Qala),” “Ambar Se Toda” and “Janani Priya Bharat Janani,” (RRR), “Chal Ve Watna (Dunky),” “Noodle Sa Dil Uljha Hai (All India Rank),” “Tenu Sang Rakhna (Jigra),” “Raat Akeli Thi (Merry Christmas),” and many more.
Grover’s ability to weave intricate narratives extends to his work as a writer, where he has contributed to both television and web series, showcasing a keen understanding of contemporary issues with a touch of humour.
One of his most acclaimed works as a writer was “Masaan (2015),” directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Richa Chadda, Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi, and Sanjay Mishra. Set in Varanasi, it explores themes of societal expectations, personal tragedies, caste discrimination, moral policing, and the quest for personal freedom.
“Masaan” premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won two prestigious awards: the FIPRESCI Prize and the Promising Future Prize (Prix de l’Avenir). The film’s success at Cannes catapulted it to international recognition, and it was subsequently screened at various film festivals worldwide.
Since its release, “Masaan” has achieved cult status and continues to be celebrated for its artistic merit and social relevance. It stands as a testament to the power of independent cinema in addressing pressing societal issues and telling compelling human stories.
He then wrote Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (2021), before writing and directing All India Rank in 2024. A coming-of-age comedy-drama, All India Rank tells the story of a young student who was sent to do the IIT coaching in Kota by his family. The film explored the serious issues of the pressure of societal and parental expectations on children as well as the pressure of cutthroat competition fuelled by educational institutes for monetary gains.
One of his other important works was the Netflix series “Sacred Games,” which went on to be a cultural phenomenon across India. He also acted in films like Bombay Velvet and Qala.
He also published graphic books for children, like Paper Chor (2018), Biksu (2019), and the webcomic Karejwa (2020), an apocalyptic novella.
Apart from his writing prowess, Varun Grover is a stand-up comedian known for his sharp observations, relatable humour, and sarcasm, connecting with audiences on a personal level. His multidimensional talent has made him a respected figure in India’s cultural landscape. He co-created the political satire group Aisi Taisi Democracy, which combines humour with social and political commentary.
With a unique blend of creativity and social consciousness, Varun Grover continues to captivate audiences in India and abroad through his lyrics, writing, and comedic performances.
