Vir Das: I no longer demonise the offended
Vir Das discusses defying caution in comedy, handling offence, and his evolving career as comedian, actor, and director.
In India, offence comes with paperwork and the International Emmy-winning comedian knows the drill. But he also knows how to turn the aftermath of a controversy into comedy gold
Updated - November 03, 2026 06:09 pm IST
Vir Das has been nominated for the third time for an International Emmy for ‘Vir Das: Fool Volume’ (2025). | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
“I don’t know what careful is in stand-up. The art form is to disregard being careful,” says Vir Das. It is a philosophy that has served him well, though not without its costs. From Delhi Belly (2011) and Go Goa Gone (2013) to Netflix comedy specials, including the International Emmy-winning Vir Das: Landing (2022) and sold-out live shows, the comedian-actor has built a career on pushing boundaries, at home and internationally. His third International Emmy nomination, for Vir Das: Fool Volume (2025), marks another milestone. The winners will be announced on November 23 in New York City.
Earlier this year, Das also made his directorial debut with Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, co-directed by Kavi Shastri. He is now working on his solo directorial, Baara Number, a found-footage horror film with an ensemble cast. In this interview, Das discusses the challenges of being a comic today, navigating offence and his ambitions as a filmmaker. Edited excerpts:
Published - November 03, 2026 04:56 pm IST
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