Anybody with a sharp brain and a mic can become a comedian, but there’s a need to move beyond it. The audience wants to witness the marriage of theatre, comedy and something more. – Vir Das
A lot of people do comedy about India, but they’re not from India. It’s a Kwik-E-Mart perspective. I want to provide a genuine view and maybe one on how we see the West. – Vir Das
Delhi women – they’re the most beautiful women! But the fact remains that they know they are gorgeous. – Vir Das
It might sound cliched, but choosing the right script is crucial. I think ‘Badmaash Company’ was a very big break for me because it gave me a lot of appreciation from the masses. It made me more confident as an actor. – Vir Das
When it comes to English stand-up comedy, Indians have only seen the best – Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby and the like. So, when someone claims to be an English stand-up comedian in India, he’d better be very good if he’s going to make a life of it. – Vir Das
A stand-up comedian will never be the life of a party. Instead, he will be the guy who is standing at a corner and observing people. – Vir Das
Movies require a lot of patience. I like instant results. If I have done something that’s not funny at all, the audience will let me know in two seconds. With the movie, I will have to wait nine months to know if I was that bad. – Vir Das
I am honestly very intimidated when I meet new people and they expect me to be the onscreen Vir. On stage, I say a lot of things I might never say in real life; I am never the life of the party. People are quite surprised to see that I am more of a quiet artiste off stage. – Vir Das
I’m kind of a rebound junkie. So. when a relationship goes sour, I look at the sweetness in life elsewhere. So, I date a bit. The best catharsis is to write jokes and tell 4,000 people about it. – Vir Das
Chennai is one of the scariest crowds to face. Everyone looks so conservative, but once you crack the first joke, they are so appreciatively loud that they will hit you with a laugh that will scare you stiff and yet give you energy. Chennaiites give me the loudest laughs; it’s the coolest crowd to perform for. – Vir Das
Whatever movies I sign, they have to get me out of my comfort zone. Otherwise, I would get bored very easily. – Vir Das
It’s very important to not repeat yourself. After ‘Delhi Belly,’ I was offered 40 ‘Delhi Belly’s and you can’t do that! So ‘Revolver Rani’ is dark and gritty with action, ‘Sooper Se Oopar’ is a big commercial love story, ‘Santa Banta’ is a ‘theth’ Punjabi comedy, ‘Golu Aur Pappu’ is a kids’ film and ‘Amit Sahni Ki List’ is an urban romcom. – Vir Das
I have a rule – ‘funny is funny!’ When I write comedy, it’s not my aim to upset people. I will be offensive, edgy and immature, but I will also be very intelligent and relevant. At my shows, there are no holy cows. – Vir Das
I wouldn’t call myself successful, just obsessively exhausted. The music makes me smile, the movies make me feel humbled, and the comedy saves my life every day. – Vir Das
You realise the responsibility of carrying a film on your shoulders when people are investing money in you and they recognise the hard work you have to put in. – Vir Das
Alien Chutney is just what the name suggests it is. Its music that is so funny and quirky and weird that it feels entirely alien to the listener; yet, the content and the subject matter is so Indian and relatable, it’s still chutney. – Vir Das
‘Badmaash Company’ and ‘Delhi Belly’ was about friends, and I was part of the gang. And yes, they did have stars playing the lead! You do need a star to sell a film; and playing the second lead doesn’t bother me. – Vir Das
Women do come up to me after a show, but it’s usually to say, ‘Yhank you for making us laugh,’ and all that. – Vir Das
I am a big fan of Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, who have carved a niche for themselves. I think doing different kind of films gives you longevity and the ability to set yourself apart. – Vir Das
I got ‘Delhi Belly’ and ‘Badmaash Company’ because people from the production house had seen my stand-up comic acts in a DVD that was lying in their offices. It’s been a weird journey, and I think weird goes with me. – Vir Das