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
Early Life and Education
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.
Journey Begins
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. He was one of the six staff writers, in the show. This experience helped him discover his flair for stand-up comedy writing, which later led him to perform stand-up comedy himself.
Move to Mumbai
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).
Some Songs of Varun Grover
In 2015, he won the National Film Awards for Best Lyrics for “Moh Moh Ke Dhage” in “Dum Laga Ke Haisha.” For the film he also wrote “Dard Karaara,” and “Dum Laga Ke Haisha.” The Same year he wrote the songs in Masaan. In the film he wrote Tumhari Nazrein Katam (Kailash Kher) and Mann Kasturi by Amit kilam.” He also wrote “Tu Kisi Rail Si Guzarti Hai, based on poem by Dushyant Kumar. Grover also wrote the famous Shahrukh Khan song Jabra Fan in Fan (2016).
Some of his notable songs include “Aaj Laagi Laagi Nai Dhoop” and “Yaad Saari Baari Baari” (Ankhon Dekhi), “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.
Masaan
One of his most acclaimed works as a writer was “Masaan (2015),” directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Richa Chadha, 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.
Writing, Directing, Acting and much more
He then wrote Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar in 2021. He then wrote and directed the coming-of-age comedy-drama, All India Rank in 2024. The film tells the story of a young student who went to do the IIT coaching in Kota. The film explored the serious issues of the pressure of societal and parental expectations on children. It also delve into the toxic culture of cutthroat competition fuelled by educational institutes for monetary gains.
He also acted in films like Bombay Velvet and Qala.
Grover’s ability to weave intricate narratives extends to his work as a writer. He also contributed to both TV and OTT. In his work, he has shown a keen understanding of contemporary issues with a touch of humour. One of his other important works was the iconic Netflix series “Sacred Games,” starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The show went on to be a cultural phenomenon across India and made Ganesh Gaitonde and Sartaj Singh, household names.
He also published graphic books for children, like Paper Chor (2018), and Biksu (2019). He also came up with a 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.
Varun Grover on IMDB
