Das says roast-style humour struggles in India because jokes are shaped by hierarchy, not freedom. He adds that even big stars hosting award shows can’t fix the imbalance that limits sharp comedy.
Image Source: Instagram
‘You know those award show moments where a host casually roasts a superstar and the audience laughs it off? Yeah… don’t expect that in India anytime soon.’
On Monday evening, Vir Das dropped a candid post on Instagram, pulling back the curtain on Indian award shows. The comedian, who has spent years writing scripts for such events, explained why the sharp, roast-heavy hosting style seen internationally just doesn’t work here.
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He wasn’t guessing. He was speaking from experience. Having written for multiple award shows over five years, Das knows exactly how these events are planned, filtered, and toned down before they reach the stage.
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Referencing global names like Ricky Gervais and Conan O’Brien, Das explained the idea behind roast-style hosting.
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According to him, the point is simple: for one night, a comedian acts like a jester, poking fun at the biggest stars in the room. These celebrities are already being celebrated, so the jokes act as a “punch-up”, a way to humanise people who are otherwise placed on a pedestal.
In theory, it’s harmless fun. In practice, not so much in India.
Das didn’t sugarcoat the main issue: star egos.
He said that in India, actors often don’t take jokes well, especially if they come from someone perceived as “below” them in the industry hierarchy. The result? A comedian can’t freely roast the room without worrying about who might get offended.
This creates a situation where humour has to be carefully managed instead of being spontaneous or sharp.
Das also pointed out how power imbalance changes everything on stage.
In international shows, comedians usually operate with a certain level of independence. But in India, the room itself is structured around hierarchy; who’s bigger, who’s more influential, and who can say what about whom.
He noted that even when a big star hosts an award show, it doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it can make things trickier. Only a handful of people in the room are at that same level, so the jokes either become too safe or too selective.
The result? The audience watching at home may not find it funny at all.
Das made an interesting observation. When major stars host award shows, it may work for the people sitting in the audience, but not always for viewers.
Why? Because the humour gets diluted. It becomes more about maintaining relationships than delivering sharp, honest comedy.
So instead of bold roasts, you get controlled jokes that rarely land the same way.
On the work front, Vir Das was last seen in ‘Happy Patel’. The film marked his debut as a director and was produced by Aamir Khan under Aamir Khan Productions.
The movie hit theatres on January 16, 2026, adding another role to Das’s already varied career.
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