Vir Das
Moscow Art Theatre - Harvard University (Stanislavsky Program) • Years Active — 2005–present • Occupation — * Comedian • actor • comedy musician • Awards — International Emmy Awards 2023 in Comedy • Relatives — Brajbir Saran Das (grandfather) • Website — https: www.virdas.in Vir Das (born 31 May 1979) is an Indian comedian, actor and musician. After beginning a career in standup comedy, Das moved to Hindi cinema starring in films like Badmaash Company (2010), Delhi Belly (2011), and Go Goa Gone (2013) in supporting roles. In 2017, he performed the Netflix special Abroad Understanding.
Vir Das

Bollywood Hungama · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Vir Das
- Born
- 31 May 1979
- Birthplace
- Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh (now in Uttarakhand), India
- Nationality
- India.
- Occupation
- actor, comedian, television producer, film director and television director.
- Education
- Knox College, The Lawrence School and Sanawar.
- Languages
- Hindi.
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Moscow Art Theatre - Harvard University (Stanislavsky Program) • Years Active — 2005–present • Occupation — * Comedian • actor • comedy musician • Awards — International Emmy Awards 2023 in Comedy • Relatives — Brajbir Saran Das (grandfather) • Website — https: www.virdas.in Vir Das (born 31 May 1979) is an Indian comedian, actor and musician. After beginning a career in standup comedy, Das moved to Hindi cinema starring in films like Badmaash Company (2010), Delhi Belly (2011), and Go Goa Gone (2013) in supporting roles. In 2017, he performed the Netflix special Abroad Understanding.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Das has appeared in approximately 35 plays, over 100 stand-up comedy shows, 18 films, eight TV shows and six comedy specials. He has written comedic columns for Femina, Maxim, Exotica, DNA and Tehelka. In 2019, he made his debut in American television with the television series, Whiskey Cavalier. He won the 2023 International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series for the Netflix comedy special Vir Das: Landing.

Vir Das introduce standup comedy at Apicus
Bollywood Hungama
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Vir Das • Born — 31 May 1979 • Birthplace — Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh (now in Uttarakhand), India • Alma Mater — Knox College (Illinois) (BS Economics and Theatre)
Biography
Biography
Vir Das was born to Ranu Das and Madhur Das in Dehradun on 31 May 1979. He was raised in Nigeria and India. In Nigeria, he attended the Indian Language School in Lagos, Nigeria. In India, he attended The Lawrence School, Sanawar and Delhi Public School, Noida. After 18 months at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi he went to the United States. There he obtained a bachelor's degree from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois in Economics and Theatre with a concentration in performance. After graduating from Knox, Das was accepted to Harvard University and Moscow Arts Theatre for their joint Stanislavsky Program. He has a sister Trisha, who is four years elder to him and is a published author and a documentary filmmaker. His grandfather Brajbir Saran Das was a Padma Shri awardee from Bengal. He married his girlfriend after five years of relationship, Shivani Mathur, in October 2014.
Career
Career
Das began his career with a gig at one of the premier hotels in New Delhi with a performance titled "Walking on Broken Das". He started working on TV when he hosted two TV shows on Zoom. Das is the host of News on the Loose, his own news comedy show on CNBC-TV18. News on the Loose was given its own weekly half-hour special News On The Loose — Weekend on CNBC-TV18. Das was cast as the comic relief in The Curse of King Tut's Tomb, a Hallmark mini-series filmed in India. He began filming for his first two Bollywood roles in early 2006. He played a small role Vipul Shah's 2007 movie Namastey London. Vir Das has also worked with Ashvin Gidwani Productions-AGP on stand-up shows like Walking on Broken Das, Battle of Da Sexes, and History of India: VIRitten, which he wrote and directed. He performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2011, 2022 and 2024. On 25 April 2017, Das's Netflix special Abroad Understanding was released, in the process becoming the first Indian comedian with a comedy special on the platform. In December 2018, Das released his second Netflix comedy special, entitled Losing It. In 2019, Das released his travel-cum-comedy show Jestination Unknown where he explores how Indians see humour along with a couple of other stand-up comedians and celebrities. He starred opposite Preity Zinta in a Fresh Off the Boat episode titled "The Magic Motor Inn". He plays the patriarch of an Indian family. Das's onscreen family was slated to be at the centre of the plot of the official spin-off of the same show. However, the show was not picked up by networks. During the lockdown in 2020 he was on Netflix in a one-hour special called Vir Das: Outside In. A petition was filed against Das' 2020 show, Hasmukh, in the Delhi High Court, by two lawyers, who claimed that the series "maligned the legal profession". The plea for an interim injunction against the show was subsequently dismissed by the court, as it observed that "the very essence of democracy is that a creative artist is given the liberty to project the picture of the society in a manner he perceives". In 2021, in an interview with DeadAnt, Das revealed that the court had also officially defined the job of a stand-up comedian in its ruling, stating, "The job of a comedian is to take it to ridiculous places, to make it absurd, any resemblance it is not to be taken seriously, doesn’t warrant legal action". On 12 November 2021, Das performed a monologue titled "Two Indias" at the Kennedy Center in Washington. He contrasted India's rich and poor, criticised politicians and democratic backsliding, and noted divisions over Bollywood films and cricket teams. On the topic of women, he remarked: "I come from an India where we worship women during the day and gang-rape them at night." The performance received a standing ovation, but Indian politicians filed seven police complaints against Das, including for insulting India on foreign soil. In November 2022, Mumbai police issued a first information report against Das, two other people, and online streaming platform Netflix on charges of copyright rules violation, following a complaint by theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani of AGP World that Das had re-used material from his previous show in his Netflix special. On 29 January 2023, Das appeared on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast and discussed faking appendicitis as a child, the first laugh he ever got on stage, the controversy over his "Two Indias" monologue, and his new special Vir Das: Landing. He hosted the 52nd International Emmy Awards in 2024. In December 2025, he announced his directorial debut titled Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, which stars Das himself, Mona Singh, Mithila Palkar, Imran Khan and a cameo appearance by Aamir Khan. It released on 16 January 2026, to mixed-to-positive reviews.
Television
Television
• Year — Show — Role — Notes • 2006 — The Curse of King Tut's Tomb — Jabari • 2008 — Mumbai Calling — Call Centre Operator — Seven episodes • 2017 — Conan — Guest • 2019 — Whiskey Cavalier — Jai Datta — Main Cast • Koffee with Karan — Himself — Episode: Koffee Awards 2019 • 2020 — Fresh Off the Boat — DC — Episode: "The Magic Motor Inn"
Web
Web
• Year — Name — Platform — Notes • 2014 — Canvas Laugh Factory — YouTube • 2017 — Abroad Understanding — Netflix — Stand-up special • 2018 — Losing It • 2019 — Jestination Unknown — Amazon Prime Video — Comedy series • 2020 — Hasmukh — Netflix — Writer and an actor • For India — Stand-up special • Vir Das: Inside Out — Virdas.in • Vir Das: Outside In — Netflix • 2022 — Vir Das: Landing • 2024 — Call Me Bae — Amazon Prime Video — Essayed the role of Satyajit Sen • 2025 — Vir Das: Fool Volume — Netflix — Stand-up special
Books
*
Film
Key • Denotes films that have not yet been released • Year — Film — Role — Notes • 2007 — Namastey London — Prospective Groom No. 2 — Guest appearance • Mumbai Salsa — Rajeev • 2009 — Love Aaj Kal — Shonty • 2010 — Badmaash Company — Chandu • 2011 — Delhi Belly — Arup — Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor • 2013 — Go Goa Gone — Luv • Sooper Se Ooper — Ranvir • 2014 — Shaadi Ke Side Effects — Manav • Revolver Rani — Rohan Kapoor • Amit Sahni Ki List — Amit Sahni • 2016 — Mastizaade — Aditya Chotia • Santa Banta — Banta • 31st October — Devender Singh • Raakh — Protagonist • Shivaay — Wahab • 2017 — Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi — Monty Tondon • 2022 — The Bubble — Ronjon — American film • 2026 — Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos — Happy Patel — Directorial debut, also writer and producer
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Marshall, Alex. They're Comedy Stars at Home. At Edinburgh Fringe, They're Nobodies. The New York Times. 24 August 2022. 0362-4331.
- 2.Pereira, Priyanka. Vir Das: No Laughing Matter. Open The Magazine. 16 November 2016.
- 3.Kozell, Isaac. Vir Das Has an 'Abroad Understanding'. Vulture. 25 April 2017.
- 4.International Emmy Awards 2023: Netflix's 'Vir Das Landing' wins Best Comedy. India Today. 21 November 2023.
- 5.Mathur, Yashika. Happy birthday Vir Das: Celebration's going to be all about family and ghar ka khana. Hindustan Times. 31 May 2017.
- 6.Dwivedi, Jyoti. Fact Check: Vir Das or Vir Abdullah Das? Edited Wiki page screenshot viral after actor's US gig. India Today. 19 November 2021.
- 7.Gupta, Priya. My mother tells me not to say 'penis' on stage: Vir Das. The Times of India. 12 February 2014.
- 8.Zaman, Rana Siddiqui. Out Standing. The Hindu. 16 October 2009. 0971-751X.
- 9.Humour and Society, with Vir Das. Asia Society.
- 10.Myers, Marc. Vir Das Made His Way From India to American TV via National Lampoon. Wall Street Journal. 26 February 2019. 0099-9660.
- 11.Vir Das says he was a loser in school, which led him to becoming a comedian. Mid Day. 6 August 2025.
- 12.Where my Bengalis at?. YouTube.
- 13.Shah, Jigar. I'm called an actor, not a comic: Vir Das. The Hindustan Times. 21 January 2015.
- 14.Chatterjee, Suprateek. Review: Vir Das' 'Abroad Understanding' Is A Hit-And-Miss Affair. The Quint. 29 April 2017.
- 15.All American Speakers Bureau. Vir Das Biography & Booking Info for Speaking Engagements. allamericanspeakers.com.
- 16.Ashvin Gidwani Productions and Vir Das take the audience on a laughter ride. India Infoline. 20 August 2014.
- 17.Richardson, Jay. Vir Das at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The List. 9 August 2011.
- 18.Nijhawan, Meghna. Comedian Vir Das Compares Donald Trump To Arranged Marriage On US TV Show. NDTV. 27 April 2017.
- 19.Singh, Deepali. 'I have worked very hard to be this exhausted': Vir Das. Daily News and Analysis. 10 December 2018.
- 20.Arora, Akhil. 'Jestination Unknown: Vir Das, Shruti Seth & Co. Tour India and Make Jokes': Vir Das. NDTV. 18 October 2019.
- 21.Choudhury, Bedatri. A Potential "Fresh Off The Boat"Spinoff With Preity Zinta And Vir Das. Forbes. 29 October 2019.
- 22.Malik, Ektaa. Vir Das Outside In The Lockdown Special review: A highly relatable Netflix special. The Indian Express. 16 December 2020.
- 23.Delhi High Court Refuses to Pass Interim Ban on Vir Das Starrer 'Hasmukh' - DeadAnt. DeadAnt. 7 May 2020.
- 24.Vir Das thanks Delhi HC for order in favour of Hasmukh, says 'Offence is taken, not given'. Hindustan Times. PTI. 6 May 2020.
- 25.When Vir Das quoted Delhi HC's definition of stand-up comedy: "The job of a comedian is to take it to ridiculous places". The Times of India. 12 February 2025. 0971-8257.
- 26.Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue. BBC News. 17 November 2021.
- 27.Indian comedian Vir Das's hard-hitting 'Two Indias' monologue lands him in trouble. DAWN Images. 19 November 2021.
- 28.Shih, Gerry. Indian comedian causes stir with Kennedy Center monologue. The Washington Post. 17 November 2021.
- 29.Kwan, Rhoda. Comedian's tale of 'two Indias' at U.S. show sparks outrage at home. NBC News. 18 November 2021.
- 30.Mogul, Rhea. Indian comedian polarizes nation with his tale of 'two Indias'. CNN. 18 November 2021.
- 31.Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue
- 32.Frayer, Lauren. Comedian Vir Das called out sexual violence in India. Now he faces lawsuits. NPR. 18 November 2021.
- 33.Mumbai Police register FIR against comedian Vir Das, Netflix on charges of copyright infringement. The Times of India. PTI. 9 November 2022.
- 34.AGP World.
- 35.Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue. BBC News. 17 November 2021.
- 36.Vir Das. Earwolf.
- 37.Petski, Denise. International Emmys Sets Vir Das As Host. Deadline Hollywood. 11 September 2024.
- 38.Aamir Khan lost 18 kilos through an anti-inflammatory diet for 'Happy Patel', the actor shares details. The Times of India. 14 January 2026. 0971-8257.
- 39.Vir Das reacts to Happy Patel CBFC certification: Only A I've ever received. India Today. 14 January 2026.
- 40.'Happy Patel': Aamir Khan Productions announces Vir Das' directorial debut featuring Imran Khan. The Hindu. 3 December 2025.
- 41.IANS. Preity Zinta, Vir Das' 'Fresh Off The Boat' Episode to Premiere on Jan. 24. India West. 23 January 2020.
- 42.Vir Das's Abroad Understanding: The comedian tackles religion, racism and more in his Netflix special show. Firstpost. 26 April 2017.
- 43.Vir Das to join Ananya Panday and Gurfateh Pirzada in Call Me Bae. Bollywood Hungama. 8 August 2023.
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