Vir Das began his comedy career performing at open mics, corporate shows, and hosting a segment on a news channel. But few know that he also worked behind the scenes as a writer for major Bollywood award shows. His breakthrough came in 2009 when he co-wrote the now iconic Filmfare Awards hosted by Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan,  a show that still goes viral on social media to this day. The event was not only loved by the audience but also earned appreciation from industry stalwarts, including Shah Rukh Khan.

Vir Das on getting Filmfare opportunity

In a conversation with mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist, Vir recalled how the opportunity came to him. “I was doing Delhi Belly at the time. I got a call from Imran and Ranbir saying they were hosting the Filmfare Awards but felt the script was a bit old school. They asked if I could come in and write. So we wrote that first Imran-Ranbir Filmfare - that was our first big thing.”

That one event opened doors to more opportunities. “Life changed after that show. We got hired for everything — from Filmfare to IIFA to Stardust. Everyone wanted what Imran and Ranbir had delivered. That’s how we learned to write for bigger stars,” he said.