Vir Das Becomes First Indian to Host International Emmy Awards, Says 'I Can't Wait to...'

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced that comedian and Bollywood star Vir Das will host the 2024 International Emmy Awards. The prestigious event is set to take place on Monday, November 25, in New York City.

This marks Das’s return to the International Emmys stage after his impressive win last year for his Netflix comedy special Landing. Das, who was also nominated in the Comedy category in 2021, brings a unique blend of humor and perspective that has resonated with global audiences.

Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, expressed enthusiasm about Das’s return: “We’re delighted to welcome back Vir Das to our stage and to add International Emmy® Host to his impressive list of talents. With his unique humor and perspective on the world, he now joins a distinguished group of Gala hosts over the years who fit in perfectly with our global audience.”

Sharing the news on his Instagram handle, Vir wrote, “Thanks to your support, an Indian Emmy Host I can’t wait to host the @iemmys this year! Crazy. Thank you for having me. Tremendously honoured and excited!”

Das, currently on his international Mind Fool tour, has built a diverse career. He has created, produced, and starred in various series, including the ABC spy drama-comedy Whiskey Cavalier, the Netflix thriller Hasmokh, and the Amazon travel show Jestination Unknown. Additionally, he starred in Judd Apatow’s Netflix feature The Bubble and is developing a single-camera comedy with CBS Studios and Andy Samberg. He also leads India’s comedy-rock band Alien Chutney.

In 2023, Das made history by winning an International Emmy for Comedy for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing. This accolade was shared with Derry Girls Season 3, while titles such as France’s Le Flambeau and Argentina’s El Encargado were also nominated. Reflecting on his win, Das remarked, “This moment is truly surreal – an incredible honor that feels like a dream. Winning an Emmy for Vir Das: Landing is not just a milestone for me but for Indian comedy as a whole. It’s heartening to see Vir Das: Landing resonate globally, thanks to Netflix, Akash Sharma, and Reg Tigerman who made it special.”

Currently, Das is earning acclaim for his role as a TRP-hungry TV news anchor, Satyajit Sen, in Ananya Panday’s Call Me Bae, streaming on Prime Video.