Vir Das to NRIs: 'Your parents' version of India no longer exists. He urges them to come home and see the modern India

Economic Times

7 hours ago

Vir Das is set to be honoured at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 for his global impact on comedy. An old video of Das challenging diaspora stereotypes about India has resurfaced, urging second-generation Indians abroad to confront outdated perceptions and experience modern India. He encourages them to visit and witness the country's current reality.
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Screenshot of Vir Das's Instagram Post (pic credit- @virdas)
Fresh off the announcement that he will be honoured at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025, comedian and actor Vir Das has once again captured public attention, this time with an old video that's making waves for all the right reasons. While he gears up to be celebrated for his impact on Indian entertainment and global comedy, Das, in the clip, used his voice to challenge long-standing stereotypes about India held by many in the diaspora.In the now-viral clip, Das delivers a pointed message to second-generation Indians living abroad. 'Your parents' version of India does not exist. It is archaic, it is gone,' he says, urging them to confront outdated perceptions shaped by their upbringing and media. He also took aim at how pop culture continues to misrepresent India, stating that the pop cultural portrayal of India does not exist.Encouraging NRIs to visit and experience the India of today, he says, 'Come home' and asks them to 'witness modern India, in all of our chaos and infinitely larger beauty.' He ends the message on a strong note that if the NRIs are not coming back home, they should not lecture Indians from abroad about what it actually means to be an Indian.Meanwhile, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, now in its 16th edition and scheduled from August 14 to 24, will honour Das for his contributions to the globalisation of Indian comedy . The Emmy-winning comedian will be one of the special guests at this year's event, which features a vibrant lineup of films, celebrity talks, and masterclasses.Reacting to the recognition, Vir Das shared a heartfelt and humorous note on Instagram. He said he often feels like the least accomplished person in a room full of celebrated filmmakers and has rarely been felicitated—only intimidated.Reflecting on a past incident at a film festival where a critic questioned his presence, Das joked that he might just slip into a local comedy show after the event, get playfully roasted by the crowd, and let it all make sense in his own way.