Comedian and actor Vir Das, known for his fearless commentary, is set to be honoured at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) for his significant contributions to Indian entertainment and his growing influence on the global stage.

Amid this recognition, a video of Das has gone viral, in which he addresses the misconceptions some Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) hold about modern India. In the widely circulated clip, Das takes a dig at second-generation Indians raised abroad, asking them to reassess their often outdated perceptions of the country.

“Any people raised by Indian parents abroad, come on second generation, I say this to you with respect, your parents’ version of India does not exist. It is archaic, it is gone,” Das said in the video. He also criticised the stereotypical portrayal of India in global pop culture, stating, “Your pop culture portrayal of India doesn’t exist.”

He further added, “Come home, aajao! Come home and witness modern India, in all of our chaos and infinitely larger beauty, come home.” Das concluded saying, “If you are not going to come home, never lecture us from abroad on what it means to be an Indian.”

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Earlier this month, Das faced criticism for praising Air India just days after the tragic AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. Sharing his thoughts on X, he recounted a recent journey from the UK to India with the airline, “I flew Air India home from London. It was all great. The crew, happy to report, still the kindest in the sky,” he posted.

In a now-deleted tweet, Das revealed a personal connection to the airline, writing, “I should clarify. I support the airline because I have a very biased history with them. My grandfather worked for Air India. It’s an airline with its share of problems, I know. I’ve flown every route and seat class over the course of my career.”

He continued, “But as someone who’s completed three world tours and flown with almost every airline out there, make no mistake, no crew will judge you less or welcome you more. It’s unfortunate that their grief in a tragedy like this often goes unacknowledged. That’s why I choose to support them.”