Varun Grover: Laughter, Rage & the Art of Staying Awake in a Broken World

In this deeply personal and sharp-witted episode, I sit down with Varun Grover, writer, comedian, lyricist, to talk about the role of art in protest, the loneliness of thinking differently, and how humour became his way of surviving a fractured world. From navigating anger with grace, to resisting conformity with comedy, Varun opens up about the politics of sensitivity, the pressures of being an artist in India, and why making people laugh can be a radical act. We talk about shame, censorship, grief, and the long journey from silence to satire. Varun doesn’t hold back, and in doing so, gives us a masterclass in vulnerability, sharpness, and staying awake in a society that often rewards the opposite. If you’ve ever felt too soft for this world, too angry, too awake, this one’s for you. Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer. The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.