may be India’s first comedy export to win an International Emmy, but even he knows that global fame doesn’t always guarantee a homegrown mass following. In a recent interview, the comedian opened up about what sets apart Indian comedy giants like Kapil Sharma and Zakir Khan—and why he’s not trying to replicate their success. His take? It all comes down to authenticity, roots, and lived experiences.
Reflecting on the stark contrast in audience appeal between himself and comics like Zakir and Kapil, Vir shared in an interview with the Screen that their success in India isn’t just about punchlines or relatability—it’s about being deeply embedded in the cultural soil they emerged from. “You can see Zakir grew up in classical music and poetry,” he noted. “Kapil Sharma is so much your Punjab everyman travelling through India.” Their material resonates because it’s born out of their realities.

For Vir, whose upbringing spanned multiple cities and cultures, replicating that hyper-local flavour wouldn’t just be impossible—it would be disingenuous. “I’m not from anywhere,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, I’ve grown up everywhere, so I’ll have to be who I am. If I ever tried to do that, you’d smell the inauthenticity in the material.” He even shared a personal moment from his recent show at Soho Theatre, London, where Zakir Khan showed up in the audience to support him. Despite moving in slightly different comedy ecosystems, Das acknowledged the quiet camaraderie between Indian comics. “Comedians on the comedy circuit in India are always WhatsApping each other,” he said, also mentioning that while he doesn’t know Kapil Sharma very well, they’ve crossed paths.Meanwhile, Vir Das is back with a brand-new comedy special titled Fool Volume, which is now streaming on Netflix. The announcement came with a quirky poster showing Das holding a mic in one hand and an electric lamp in the other, staring at it with mock wonder.

Netflix India shared the poster with the caption, “Indian comedy is not silent, it returns with Fool Volume.” This marks the Emmy-winning comedian’s much-awaited return to the stand-up stage.