Writer-director Varun Grover reflected on his 20-year-long journey in Mumbai on Monday, recalling the early days of hardship that made him discover the ‘constant exploitation and lack of respect’ for writers in the industry.

"I often think that if I had known how tough this city—and this industry—are, I’d have probably never moved. The constant exploitation and lack of respect for writers came as a shock to me, but the kindness and support of many people kept me going," Grover wrote on Instagram, sharing a picture of a one-rupee currency note that he had brought with him to the city on July 1, 2004.

Grover’s journey began with The Great Indian Comedy Show, where he collaborated with industry stalwarts like Shashant Shah, Vinay Pathak, Amit V. Masurkar, and Sailesh Dave. He thanked director Anurag Kashyap who guided him during his early days.

“Over time, many more artistic voices I respected and loved allowed me to collab and play; starting with the man who taught me to be brave - @anuragkashyap10,” wrote the Maasan screenplay writer.

He also mentioned the prominent Bollywood figures and artists who inspired him to be “honest and authentic”. The list included Amit Trivedi, Richa Chadha, Swara Bhaskar, Vikramaditya Motwane, Jaideep Ahlawat and Huma Qureshi.

Grover’s directorial debut All India Rank theatrically released on February 24 and is currently streaming on Netflix India. He thanked the producers, cast and crew of the film for joining him on this journey. The film stars Bodhisattva Sharma in a lead role alongside Shashi Bhushan, Samta Sudiksha, Geeta Agarwal, and Sheeba Chaddha. It was screened as the closing film at the 52nd International Film Festival Rotterdam which took place from January 25 to February 5, 2023.

Talking about the one-rupee note, he wrote, "This one-rupee note was in my wallet the day I arrived in Mumbai, soaking wet in the rain. I dried it out and decided to keep it as a romantic gesture, a symbol of that day. I had other money, but this note became a symbol of that moment. When I dried it, it became crisp, and it remains crisp to this day, just like this city."

Varun Grover is an Indian comedian, lyricist, and screenwriter known for his sharp wit and social commentary. He has contributed as a lyricist and screenwriter for several notable films in Bollywood including, Masaan (2015), Udta Punjab (2016) and Sacred Games (2018).