Bollywood doesn't value even writers like Gulzar-Javed Akhtar: Varun Grover
Acclaimed writer-filmmaker Varun Grover recently brought attention to the issue of writer exploitation in Bollywood. In an interview with Jist, Grover highlighted that even respected personalities like Gulzar and Javed Akhtar often go uncredited for their work. He also shared an incident where a comedian friend was offered a paltry amount for his writing services by a prominent director.
Grover's friend offered ₹50,000 for dialogues, screenplay
Grover shared an experience involving a friend who was asked to write dialogues and screenplay for a well-known filmmaker. "This filmmaker doesn't make very commercial films, but he does middle-of-the-road cinema, has been working for over 30 years, and is seen as a 'messiah' by his fans," Grover said. The filmmaker initially offered his friend just ₹50,000 for the work.
Payment increased to ₹3L after negotiation; half still pending
After negotiations, the fee was raised to ₹3 lakh, but only half has been paid till now. The remaining payment was promised upon the film's release, which is still uncertain. Grover highlighted that as per Screenwriters' Association rules, the minimum payment for dialogues alone should be ₹12 lakh, and around ₹20 lakh for both dialogues and screenplay.
Grover points out frequent neglect of veteran lyricists, writers
Grover also emphasized the frequent disregard of veteran lyricists and writers in Bollywood. He observed that while film posters often credit other executives, they regularly exclude the names of key contributors like Irshad Kamil and Gulzar. "Irshad Kamil's best album is Rockstar. When the CD was released, his name wasn't mentioned," Grover said. He added that even songs by Gulzar on popular YouTube music channels often don't mention his name.
Grover's notable contributions to Indian cinema
Grover is a respected lyricist, writer, director, and stand-up comedian known for his work in films such as Masaan, Qala, Merry Christmas, RRR, Gangs of Wasseypur, and the streaming series Sacred Games. He recently made his directorial debut with All India Rank.
