Vir Das Does Not Know Kapil Sharma 'Very Well': 'He Is So Much Of Your Punjabi...'

News18

2 days ago

Vir Das says that while Kapil Sharma is a "Punjabi everyman travelling through India", he comes from a different background altogether.
Vir Das has gained global recognition, but does he ever think about the fact that he hasn't gained the massive popularity in India in a way that Kapil Sharma or Zakir Khan does? In a recent interview, the Emmy award winner shared that he does not think a lot about it since his journey is very different from that of Kapil or Zakir. Das mentioned that while Kapil is a 'Punjabi everyman travelling through India", he comes from a different background altogether.
'Perhaps my journey is to have deeper interactions with a smaller group of people over a longer period of time. To do what both of them do, which is masterful in their own way, you have to be where they're from and have their own lived-in experiences. You can see Zakir grew up in classical music and poetry. And Kapil Sharma is so much your Punjabi everyman travelling through India. I'm not from anywhere. 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," Vir Das told SCREEN.
Asked if he ever picks up anything from Kapil or Zakir, Vir Das nodded positively. However, the stand-up comedian explained that even though he does not know Kapil 'very well", they are connected due to the comedy circuit in India.
'I like watching art that makes you angry and makes you want to be better. I go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe once a year, where I see a random 25-year-old comedian who's written a show that I was never capable of at 25. So I'll go back and write some more. But we all support each other. I did a trial show at Soho Theatre, London last month. Zakir was in town, he popped up and watched my whole thing. I don't know Kapil very well. Of course, we've met only intermittently. But comedians on the comedy circuit in India are always WhatsApping each other and are in each other's feedback loop," he added.
On the work front, Vir Das is all set to return with his new Netflix special, 'Vir Das: Fool Volume," premiering July 18. Filmed in Mumbai, New York, and London, it showcases his signature multi-city format.
On the other hand, Kapil Sharma's The Great Indian Kapil Show 3 is also currently streaming on Netflix.
First Published:
July 18, 2025, 10:38 IST
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