Vir Das makes debut as Hindi comedy writer

Actor-comedian Vir Das, known for his English stand-up comedy acts, has decided to branch out into regional language comedy. Vir, who has toured the world with his shows, has now taken up Hindi comedy writing.

Vir has co-written the script of Hasmukh, a dark Hindi thriller, and will also star in the film. He has earlier acted in several Bollywood films, but he admits that it was a bit challenging for him to write comedy in Hindi.

“I’m familiar with Hindi and have consumed a great amount of content. But to write it is another deal altogether. I have not been averse but never had the opportunity to write comedy, especially stand-up in Hindi, and Hasmukh was a great beginning,” shares Vir.

The actor, who has been part of films such as Delhi Belly (2011), Go Goa Gone (2013) and Shaadi Ke Side Effects (2014), has mostly done stand-up comedy in English but he does point out certain pros of doing Hindi comedy.

“I think comedy can be very global regardless of language. But yes, some jokes and some punch lines of jokes are better in certain languages and that’s why as comedians and as writers we have to adapt to that. Hindi writing, especially comedy, needs a lot of understanding of the pulse of the local markets,” he adds.

I’m familiar with Hindi and have consumed a great amount of content. But to write it is another deal altogether.

VIR DAS ACTORCOMEDIAN