Comedian and actor Vir Das has weighed in on the format of Indian film award shows, attributing the absence of sharp, roast-style hosting to what he describes as “star egos” within the industry.
His remarks came in a recent Instagram post following the 2026 Oscars. Drawing comparisons with global award ceremonies, Das questioned why Indian events do not adopt a hosting style similar to international comedians like Conan O'Brien. “Why doesn't India do a Gervais or even a Conan-style hosting of a major film awards?” he wrote, adding that his perspective comes from experience: “as someone who wrote the script for many Indian awards for five years.”
View this post on Instagram
Explaining the intent behind such formats, Das said, “The point of having comedians host and roast the Oscars, is that for a night, a jester would humanise the most beautiful chosen people. That’s when any joke is a punch-up.” However, he pointed out that the dynamics in India are different. “Here, star egos won’t take a joke from anyone not at their level,” he noted, adding that the imbalance of power affects how humour is received.
Das further explained that even when major stars host award shows, the outcome may not always translate into effective comedy for audiences. “A huge star hosting works for the people in the room, just not always funny for the people watching,” he said, citing the disconnect between stage dynamics and viewer expectations.
The Emmy-winning comedian, who hosted the International Emmy Awards in 2024, has often advocated for giving stand-up comics greater creative freedom at large-scale events. His latest comments have reignited discussions about whether Indian award shows are ready to embrace a more irreverent and risk-taking format.
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2026 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.