You can’t replace me with anybody else: Vir Das

Vir Das about his big list of movies, doing serious roles and his passion for guitars
You have Sooper Se Oopar, Amit Sahni Ki List, Golu Aur Pappu, Revolver Rani, Santa Banta and Shaadi Ke Side Effects in your kitty. Have you found your space in Bollywood?
My career goal was always very simple. The idea was to have a three-stage process. The first stage was to have movies.The second was to make it to lead in movies. Now, the third is to start focusing on the kind of films I want to do. I am a big fan of Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, who have carved a niche for themselves. I think doing different kind of films gives you longevity and the ability to set yourself apart.
Tell us something about your films.
In the next 12 months, you will get to see me in eight films. The first would be Sooper Se Oopar. It is a big commercial love story about a Mumbai guy who is kidnapped and taken to Rajasthan. There he falls in love with a simple Rajasthani girl, played by Kirti Kulhari. And then I start shooting for a schedule of Revolver Rani in another 15 days. In Santa Banta, Boman and I are there. We have just finished a schedule in Fiji. This is a completely different take on Santa Banta. I have also started shooting for Shaadi Ke Side Effects.Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar were extremely courageous to let me into the film, because what I have done in the film is so stupid. I was afraid every single day that I would get thrown out.
Have these films come your way or have you chosen them? I have chosen all of these. It’s very important to not repeat yourself. After Delhi Belly, I was offered 40 Delhi Bellys and you can’t do that! So Revolver Rani is dark and gritty with action, Sooper Se Oopar is a big commercial love story, Santa Banta is a theth Punjabi comedy, Golu Aur Pappu is a kids’ film and Amit Sahni Ki List is an urban romcom.
You are teaming with Kunal Roy Kapur for Golu Aur Pappu for the first time after Delhi Belly... He is my best jodi, honestly. He is my heroine. We are planning on working on a lot of stuff together. I like the way his mind works and he likes the way my mind works and the way we are compatible. I think of all the comic actors today, he is the one I respect the most.
Is stand-up comedy taking a backseat now that you’re getting busy with movies?
It’s about proper time management. I have never been busier than I am right now. For example, I have been in Fiji for five weeks and then I took a month off and am going to do 20 gigs this month. So the stand-up comedy audience has got what they need and the film audience has got what they need. I hope to get through this like a Robin Williams or a Chris Rock, who never had to give up their comic careers or films.
How has the struggle been for you?
I don’t think I have had to struggle at all. In Bollywood, people struggle because there is a new person joining every week, who joins an assembly line of people who are very replaceable. But if you are unique, you don’t have to struggle that much. I think what’s gotten me this far is that you can’t replace me with anybody else. I don’t think anybody looks this stupid (laughs).
You pick on Bollywood a lot as part of your stand-up acts. Now that you are a part of the same industry, will you tone yourself down?
No yaar. I think now that I am part of the same industry. It gives me more license to make fun of Bollywood. I think B’wood has a sense of humour.
Is it true that you like to collect guitars?
I have been playing the guitar since I was 16. But the fascination for them started around three years ago when I started Alien Chutney. Whenever I go abroad, I look around these select shops for something interesting. I have 17 guitars now and my girlfriend has forbidden me from buying more guitars. But every guitar is like a different woman. There’s a personality and there is an evening that is meant for that guitar only.