Vir Das on how Gen-Z destroyed stardom

Brut India

International Emmy winner Vir Das talked about why looks, fame and even awards don’t matter when a comedian takes the stage.   : Indian Express, Indian Express Entertainment.

Transcript

00:00Do you know what would happen if I walked on to a stand-up stage with an Emmy in my hand?

00:03It would make my job difficult.

00:05I love this generation.

00:06Earlier it was, here are my jokes, you're offended, oh so sorry, I'm off to the next city.

00:10And now we have to be humbled by the fact that the audience has a voice.

00:30You know, you're thought-provoking, your show is thought-provoking, they say tough things,

00:38people are getting more and more thin-skinned, I feel around, especially the news person,

00:42it's very difficult not to be pointed a finger at for taking a side.

00:47I find that very hard in comedy and you kind of have managed to do it.

00:50You manage to kind of say tough things, you make fun of people,

00:54and you've been commercially successful at that.

00:56You've got a show on Netflix, you've been Emmy nominated.

00:58Why hasn't that happened to other comics?

01:00Specifically, if I can name one guy, Kunal Kamra, who has incredible humour, incredible writing,

01:07why haven't the others been able to do this?

01:11I think the word you're looking for is yet.

01:13There should be a yet at the end of that sentence.

01:16Why hasn't it happened for them yet?

01:18And I'm sure it will.

01:20I come from a profession where it's the most democratic profession.

01:24Yes.

01:25It really is.

01:26Your youth doesn't matter.

01:27Your looks don't matter.

01:29Your dad doesn't matter and your mom doesn't matter when you're on stage.

01:33Your fame doesn't matter.

01:34If, God willing, one is kind enough to receive an Emmy,

01:39do you know what would happen if I walked onto a stand-up stage with an Emmy in my hand?

01:42It would make my job difficult.

01:44People would be like, we don't give a sh** about this.

01:47It's a very anti-establishment, it's a very anti-establishment profession.

01:51You are supposed to put us above you.

01:53Also, there's enough laughter to go around.

01:55There's enough audience to go around.

01:57You can watch comedy five times a day.

01:59How many true crimes will you watch in a day?

02:01Five murders.

02:02You won't watch it, right? Sorry, Shefali.

02:04You won't watch five murders in a day, right?

02:06But you can watch five comedy clips.

02:08So, nobody's success in comedy is at the expense of anybody's success.

02:12We have 1.6 billion people who are dying to laugh.

02:17It is the best time to be a comic.

02:19So, it will happen for them.

02:23Every comic kind of talks about identity and how it's so complicated now.

02:28I feel like people are identifying themselves to be different now.

02:30Maybe earlier they would identify themselves to be part of something larger.

02:33Part of a larger community.

02:35But now it's all about how do you stand out?

02:37How are you different?

02:39Does that affect your art?

02:41No.

02:43If you want to play devil's advocate,

02:45something that comedians have had to contend with now

02:47that we're having a hard time adjusting to

02:49is earlier it was, here are my jokes.

02:52You're offended? Oh, so sorry. I'm off to the next city.

02:54And now we have to be humbled by the fact that the audience has a voice.

02:58It's just as loud as ours.

03:00And we have to contend with their feedback in the most humble manner.

03:04I was telling Shefali this also.

03:06I love this generation.

03:08I love it. They destroyed stardom.

03:10Think about that.

03:12They destroyed celebrity in a second.

03:14And they value art history.

03:16Earlier what was the illusion?

03:18That only Ranbir or someone beautiful

03:20got to stand in front of the mountain

03:22and have beautiful music and beautiful lighting.

03:24These guys do that five times a day on Instagram.

03:28They look behind the curtain.

03:30So it's no longer undeniable or inaccessible to them.

03:32So now what else are you?

03:34What other identity do you have?

03:36What are your values?

03:38How is your behavior?

03:40Who are you?

03:42Then I'll follow you.

03:44These people are not fans.

03:46They're audience members.

03:48And for them to follow you

03:50and not be fans

03:56Do you feel people who have a lot of followers

03:58are they forced to be more authentic?

04:00Or are they able to get away

04:02by faking it?

04:04I don't think you can fake it anymore.

04:06I think this generation smells bullshit a mile away.

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