New Delhi: After the infamous ‘Two Indias’ monologue, comedian Vir Das said that he had no income for two years. In a candid conversation on The Rotoris Room podcast, Das shared how brands stopped working with him after the 2021 controversy, and even acting and directing offers dried up.
Actor Saif Ali Khan, sarod player Ayaan Ali Bangash, chef Prateek Sadhu and wildlife filmmaker Suyash Keshari also featured on the podcast.
“I had a controversy after the Kennedy speech that was quite public and quite viral. It became the number one news item for 10 days and led to 14 police complaints that we had to spend time fighting,” Das said.
He added that he did not see the monologue, performed in the United States, as a failure. “I’m very proud of it. I think it was a very well-put-together piece.”
The controversy, however, had a lasting impact on his career.
“Everything went away. For two-and-a-half years, nobody would touch you with a 10-foot pole. All the brands went away, all the acting jobs went away, all the directing jobs went away.”
Das and his wife, Shivani Mathur, moved to Goa during this period, adding, “We had no income for two years.”
Keshari asked Das and the others how they recovered from controversies that led people to “start hating you” and must feel deeply personal.
Khan added that public figures often had to separate their work from the “distraction” and drama surrounding them.
“There’s a reality to who you are and what you’re doing and what your contribution is. And then there’s distraction and things that happen. You can make a comment that’s taken out of context,” he said.
The Bollywood star claimed that such controversies could affect and distract a person for some time, but they eventually had to return to their work.
“I think most of us in my profession have gone through that fire, and we, after two days, are back to normal,” Khan said.
For Das, work returned slowly. Over time, he was finally allowed to perform again, before other projects started coming his way. However, the comedian, to the surprise of the others on the podcast, continues to avoid Madhya Pradesh as he believes he remains banned in the state.
“I’m actually banned in Madhya Pradesh. In the whole state. I don’t even know if the minister is still there. I just don’t want to find out. I don’t want to show up in Madhya Pradesh,” Das added.
Former MP home minister Narottam Mishra in November 2021 had reportedly said that Das would not be allowed to perform in the state again unless he apologised.
Das did not make it clear whether a formal government order was ever issued or whether any restriction is still in place. He said he simply did not want to find out.
“Your content can become controversial, but controversy can’t become your content.”
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)