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{{Short description|Indian comedian and actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vir Das
| image = Vir Das introduce standup comedy at Apicus 08.jpg
| caption = Das in 2012
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|5|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Dehradun]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] (now in [[Uttarakhand]]), India
| alma_mater = [[Knox College (Illinois)]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]] [[Economics]] and [[Theatre]])<br />[[Moscow Art Theatre]] (Stanislavsky Program)
| yearsactive = 2005–present
| occupation = [[Comedian]], [[Actor]], [[Musical comedy|Comedy musician]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Shivani Mathur|2014}}
| website = {{url|http://www.weirdasscomedy.com|Official Website}}<br/>{{url|http://virdas.in|Personal Website}}
}}

'''Vir Das''' (born 31 May 1979) is an Indian comedian, actor and musician. After beginning a career in standup comedy, Das moved to [[Bollywood|Hindi cinema]] starring in films like ''[[Badmaash Company]]'' (2010), ''[[Delhi Belly (film)|Delhi Belly]]'' (2011), and ''[[Go Goa Gone]]'' (2013) in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pereira|first=Priyanka|date=16 November 2016|title=Vir Das: No Laughing Matter|url=https://openthemagazine.com/cinema/vir-das-no-laughing-matter/|url-status=live|access-date=21 November 2021|website=Open The Magazine|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2017, he performed the [[Netflix]] special ''Abroad Understanding''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kozell|first=Isaac|date=25 April 2017|title=Vir Das Has an 'Abroad Understanding'|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/vir-das-has-an-abroad-understanding.html|access-date=21 November 2021|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref> 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 (India)|Femina]]'', ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'', ''Exotica'', ''[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]]'' and ''[[Tehelka]]''. In 2019, he made his debut in American television with the television series, ''[[Whiskey Cavalier]]''.

== Personal life ==
Vir Das was born to Ranu Das and Madhur Das in [[Dehradun]] on 31 May 1979.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mathur |first1=Yashika |title=Happy birthday Vir Das: Celebration's going to be all about family and ghar ka khana |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/happy-birthday-vir-das-celebration-s-going-to-be-all-about-family-and-ghar-ka-khana/story-TWydQG8DBpmdfiX5TddcAO.html |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=31 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TOI2014"/><ref name="WSJ"/> 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 [[List of Delhi Public School Society schools#DPS Noida|Delhi Public School, Noida]].<ref name="TOI2014">{{cite web|last=Gupta|first=Priya|date=12 February 2014|title=My mother tells me not to say 'penis' on stage: Vir Das|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Shaadi-ke-Side-Effects-My-mother-tells-me-not-to-say-penis-on-stage-Vir-Das/articleshow/30222359.cms?intenttarget=no|url-status=live|access-date=1 March 2014|work=The Times of India}}</ref> After 18 months at [[Sri Venkateswara College]], [[University of Delhi]] he went to the United States.<ref name="TOI2014" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Zaman|first=Rana Siddiqui|date=16 October 2009|title=Out Standing|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/radio-and-tv/Out-Standing/article16887078.ece|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 December 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> There he obtained a bachelor's degree from [[Knox College (Illinois)|Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois]] in Economics and Theatre with a concentration in performance.<ref name="TOI2014" /> After graduating from Knox, Das was accepted into the [[Harvard University]]'s and [[Moscow Arts Theatre]] for their joint Stanislavsky Program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Humour and Society, with Vir Das|url=https://asiasociety.org/india/events/humour-and-society-vir-das|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Asia Society|language=en}}</ref> He has a sister Trisha, who is four years elder to him and is a published author and a documentary filmmaker.<ref name="WSJ">{{Cite news |last=Myers |first=Marc |date=26 February 2019 |title=Vir Das Made His Way From India to American TV via National Lampoon |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/vir-das-made-his-way-from-india-to-american-tv-via-national-lampoon-11551195036 |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=6 August 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> He has claimed in one of his shows that his grandfather was a [[Padma Shri]] awardee from Bengal.<ref>{{Citation |title=Where my Bengalis at? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy35A85Rya4 |website=YouTube |access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref> He married his girlfriend of five years, Shivani Mathur, in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shah|first=Jigar|date=21 January 2015|title=I'm called an actor, not a comic: Vir Das|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/i-m-called-an-actor-not-a-comic-vir-das/article1-1309192.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123141455/http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/i-m-called-an-actor-not-a-comic-vir-das/article1-1309192.aspx|archive-date=23 January 2015|access-date=29 January 2015|publisher=The Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Chatterjee|first=Suprateek|date=29 April 2017|title=Review: Vir Das' 'Abroad Understanding' Is A Hit-And-Miss Affair|language=en|work=The Quint|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/2017/04/29/review-vir-das-netflix-abroad-understanding|url-status=dead|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826234511/https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/2017/04/29/review-vir-das-netflix-abroad-understanding|archive-date=26 August 2017}}</ref>
=== Controversies ===
====''Vir Das Two Indias''====
In November 2021, Das performed a comedy monologue at the [[Kennedy Center]] called "Two Indias". He contrasted India's rich vs. poor, criticized 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,<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59323282 Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue]</ref> but Indian politicians filed seven police complaints against Das, including for insulting India on foreign soil.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Frayer|first=Lauren|date=18 November 2021|title=Comedian Vir Das called out sexual violence in India. Now he faces lawsuits |language=en-US |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/18/1056888306/comedian-vir-das-called-out-sexual-violence-in-india-now-he-faces-lawsuits |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref>

====''Vir Das, Netflix v AGP World''====
In November 2022, Mumbai police issued an [[First information report|FIR]] against Vir Das and two other persons and online streaming platform Netflix on charges of copyright rules violation,<ref>{{Cite news|last=PTI|date=9 November 2022|title=Mumbai Police register FIR against comedian Vir Das, Netflix on charges of copyright infringement|language=en-US|work=TOI|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/mumbai-police-register-fir-against-comedian-vir-das-netflix-on-charges-of-copyright-infringement/articleshow/95379638.cms|access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref> following a complaint by noted theatre producer Ashvin Gidwani of AGP World that Das re-used material from his previous show in his Netflix special.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AGP World|url=https://ww.agpworld.com/|website=AGP World|language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
He began his career with a gig at one of the premier hotel in New Delhi with a performance titled "Walking on Broken Das".<ref name=":0" />

Das started his career on TV when he hosted two TV shows on [[Zoom (Indian TV channel)|Zoom]]. The first one was ''Is Route Ki Sabhin Linein Maast Hain'' where he was an [[Advice column|agony uncle]]. The second was his own stand-up comedy late night show ''Ek Rahin Vir''. Das also hosted ''Top Drive - Getaway'' for [[Star World India|Star World]].

Das has appeared on a variety of comedic television programs. He hosted ''Cricket Firsts'', a sports comedy show on Zee Sports (now [[TEN Action+]]). He did improvisational comedy on [[SAB TV]]'s ''Lo Kar Lo Baat''. He was an addition to the cast of ''[[The Great Indian Comedy Show]]'' on [[STAR One]]. He can be seen anchoring ''Now Not Showing'' on [[CNN-IBN]].

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 (2006 film)|The Curse of King Tut's Tomb]]'', a [[Sonar Entertainment|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.<ref>{{cite news|date=20 August 2014|title=Ashvin Gidwani Productions and Vir Das take the audience on a laughter ride|work=India Infoline|url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-business/ashvin-gidwani-productions-and-vir-das-take-the-audience-on-a-laughter-ride-114082000051_1.html|access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref>

He performed at [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] in 2011<ref>{{Cite web|last=Richardson|first=Jay|date=9 August 2011|title=Vir Das at Edinburgh Festival Fringe|url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/36373-interview-comedian-vir-das-at-edinburgh-festival/|url-status=live|access-date=3 March 2020|website=The List}}</ref> and in 2022.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/theater/edinburgh-fringe-comedy-vir-das.html|title=They're Comedy Stars at Home. They're Nobodies at Edinburgh Fringe|work=New York Times|date=24 August 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/comedian-vir-das-compares-donald-trump-to-arranged-marriage-on-us-tv-show-1686514|title=Comedian Vir Das Compares Donald Trump To Arranged Marriage On US TV Show|date=27 April 2017|publisher=NDTV|last1=Nijhawan|first1=Meghna}}</ref>

In June 2017 Das was named one of [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']]'s "10 Comics to Watch for 2017."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/10-comics-to-watch-2017-hasan-minhaj-tiffany-haddish-1202464452/|title=Variety Announces 10 Comics to Watch for 2017|last=Riley|first=Jenelle|date=13 June 2017|work=Variety|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2018, Das released his second Netflix comedy special, entitled ''Losing It''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Deepali |title='I have worked very hard to be this exhausted': Vir Das |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/interview-i-have-worked-very-hard-to-be-this-exhausted-vir-das-2694013 |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=10 December 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arora |first1=Akhil |title='Jestination Unknown: Vir Das, Shruti Seth & Co. Tour India and Make Jokes': Vir Das |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/features/jestination-unknown-vir-das-shruti-seth-comedy-travel-amazon-prime-video-india-2118568 |work=NDTV |date=18 October 2019 |access-date=11 November 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110133934/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/features/jestination-unknown-vir-das-shruti-seth-comedy-travel-amazon-prime-video-india-2118568 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He starred opposite [[Preity Zinta]] in a ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]'' episode titled "The Magic Motor Inn".<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bedatrichoudhury/2019/10/29/a-potential-fresh-off-the-boatspinoff-with-preity-zinta-and-vir-das/|title=A Potential "Fresh Off The Boat"Spinoff With Preity Zinta And Vir Das|last=Choudhury|first=Bedatri|date=29 October 2019|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> He plays the patriarch of an Indian family. Das's onscreen family will be at the center of the plot of the official spin-off of the same show.<ref name="auto"/>

During the lockdown in 2020 he was on Netflix in a one-hour special called ''Vir Das: Outside In''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malik|first=Ektaa|date=16 December 2020|title=Vir Das Outside In The Lockdown Special review: A highly relatable Netflix special|language=en|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/vir-das-outside-in-the-lockdown-special-review-7107225/|access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref>

On 12 November 2021, Das performed a [[monologue]] titled "Two Indias" at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts|Kennedy Center]] in Washington.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 November 2021|title=Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59323282|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=19 November 2021|title=Indian comedian Vir Das's hard-hitting 'Two Indias' monologue lands him in trouble|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1188833|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|website=DAWN Images}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Gerry|last2=Masih|first2=Niha|date=17 November 2021|title=Indian comedian causes stir with Kennedy Center monologue|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/17/india-comedian-rape-complaint/|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kwan|first=Rhoda|date=18 November 2021|title=Comedian's tale of 'two Indias' at U.S. show sparks outrage at home|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/s-hit-us-comedian-vir-das-stirs-fury-home-two-indias-speech-rcna5983|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2021|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mogul |first=Rhea |date=18 November 2021 |title=Indian comedian polarizes nation with his tale of 'two Indias' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/17/india/india-comedian-vir-das-criticism-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=20 November 2021 |work=CNN}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 November 2021 |title=Comedian Vir Das causes a stir with 'two Indias' monologue |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59323282 |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vir Das |url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/vir-das/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |website=Earwolf |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
|-
| rowspan=2| 2007 || ''[[Namastey London]]''|| Prospective Groom No. 2 || Guest appearance
|-
| ''[[Mumbai Salsa]]'' || Rajeev ||
|-
| rowspan=1| 2009|| ''[[Love Aaj Kal (2009 film)|Love Aaj Kal]]'' || Shonty ||
|-
| rowspan=1| 2010|| ''[[Badmaash Company]]'' || Chandu ||
|-
| rowspan=1| 2011|| ''[[Delhi Belly (film)|Delhi Belly]]'' || Arup || Nominated - [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor]]
|-
| rowspan=2| 2013|| ''[[Go Goa Gone]]'' || Luv ||
|-
| ''[[Sooper Se Ooper]]'' || Ranvir ||
|-
| rowspan=3| 2014|| ''[[Shaadi Ke Side Effects]]'' || Manav ||
|-
| ''[[Revolver Rani]]'' || Rohan Kapoor ||
|-
| ''[[Amit Sahni Ki List]]'' || Amit Sahni ||
|-
| rowspan=5| 2016|| ''[[Mastizaade]]'' || Aditya Chotia ||
|-
| ''[[Santa Banta (2014) Film|Santa Banta]]'' || Banta ||
|-
| ''[[31st October (film)|31st October]]'' || Devender Singh ||
|-
| ''[[Raakh (2016 film)|Raakh]]'' || Protagonist ||
|-
| ''[[Shivaay]]'' || Wahab ||
|-
| rowspan=1| 2017|| ''[[Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi]]'' ||Monty Tondon ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022 ||''[[Sabaash Naidu]]'' || Indian Embassy receptionist ||
|-
| ''[[The Bubble (2022 film)|The Bubble]]'' || Ronjon ||
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Show !! Role !! Notes
|-
|2006
|''[[The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (2006 film)|The Curse of King Tut's Tomb]]''
|Jabari
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Mumbai Calling]]''
|Call Centre Operator
|Seven episodes
|-
|2017
|''[[Conan (talk show)|Conan]]'' (talk show)
|Guest
|
|-
|rowspan=2 |2019
|''[[Whiskey Cavalier]]''
|Jai Datta
|Main Cast
|-
|''[[Koffee with Karan]]''
|Himself
|Episode: [[Koffee with Karan#Koffee Awards 2019|Koffee Awards 2019]]
|-
|rowspan=1 |2020
|''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]''
|DC
|Episode: "The Magic Motor Inn"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/preity-zinta-vir-das-fresh-off-the-boat-episode-to/article_81c00af8-3d7d-11ea-8350-f326c37a1dcf.html|title=Preity Zinta, Vir Das' 'Fresh Off The Boat' Episode to Premiere on Jan. 24|website=India West|date=23 January 2020|last=IANS|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
|}

===Web===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Name !! Platform !! Notes
|-
|2014 || ''Canvas Laugh Factory'' || [[YouTube]] ||
|-
| 2017 || ''Abroad Understanding''<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 April 2017|title=Vir Das's Abroad Understanding: The comedian tackles religion, racism and more in his Netflix special show|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/vir-dass-abroad-understanding-the-comedian-tackles-religion-racism-and-more-in-his-netflix-special-show-3406610.html|url-status=live|access-date=28 November 2019|website=Firstpost}}</ref>|| [[Netflix]]|| Stand-up special
|-
|2018 ||''Losing It''||Netflix||Stand-up special
|-
| 2019 || ''Jestination Unknown'' || [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Comedy series
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2020 || ''[[Hasmukh]]'' || Netflix || Writer and an actor
|-
| ''For India'' || Netflix || Stand-up special
|-
| ''Vir Das: Inside Out'' || Virdas.in || Stand-up special
|-
| ''Vir Das: Outside In'' || Netflix || Stand-up special
|-
|2022 || ''Vir Das: Landing'' || Netflix || Stand-up special
|-
|{{TableTBA}}
!scope="row" style="background:#FFFFCC;"|''Call Me Bae'' {{dagger|alt=Series that have not yet been released}}
|Amazon Prime Video
|Filming<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/vir-das-join-ananya-panday-gurfateh-pirzada-call-bae/|title=Vir Das to join Ananya Panday and Gurfateh Pirzada in Call Me Bae|work=Bollywood Hungama|date=8 August 2023 |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/play/vir-das-history-india-through-stand-comedy-351928 History of India – 2010]
* [http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/vir-das/37775/ Vir Das at Chakpak.com]
* [https://youtube.com/virdas YouTube]
*{{IMDb name|1983888}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Das, Vir}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Knox College (Illinois) alumni]]
[[Category:Indian male comedians]]
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:Indian stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Male actors from Dehradun]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]

Vir Das - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article