Indian comedian Vir Das makes history by winning the International Emmy for Comedy for his Netflix special ‘Vir Das: Landing’. This marks the star’s second International Emmy nomination and first win, making it a significant milestone in his career.
But in a surprising twist, Das shared the spotlight with the British comedy series ‘Derry Girls – Season 3’, featuring Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, and Dylan Llewellyn in lead roles. This marks the first time in International Emmy history that two comedy winners have been announced.
This year, Das and Derry Girls beat out tough competition from France’s ‘Le Flambeau’ and Argentina’s ‘El Encargado’ to claim victory. The award comes as a triumph for Das, who recently opened up about his struggles and past mental health challenges.
In an emotional Instagram post, the comedian revealed that he once contemplated suicide after facing backlash for his satire poem at a US show. “On the night I was called a terrorist, I was nominated for an Emmy Award,” he said. “I just remember standing on my floor, thinking, ‘I f***ed it up, they’re never going to let me… I should jump’.”
However, Das ended on a hopeful note, reminding others that “love is playing right underneath you. You just can’t hear it in the darkness. You have got to hang out till sunlight.”
For the big night, Vir Das donned a traditional black bandhgala suit. The International Emmy Awards ceremony was held in New York City and featured a diverse group of 56 candidates from 20 countries across 14 categories.
With this historic win, Vir Das has cemented his status as a trailblazing comedian and an inspiration for overcoming personal struggles to achieve success.