Vir Das to play an intense role in 'Jaane Kyon'

Stand-up comedian Vir Das is ditching his funnyman image for a serious role in the upcoming film Jaane Kyon, based on the riots of 1984. The actor, best known for his comic avatars in films like Delhi Belly and Go Goa Gone, has undergone a lot of physical changes to play a Sikh in the film. "I had to lose weight, grow a beard and learn Punjabi for the role. Since it's a true story and I am playing the lead role, I spent a lot of my time with the person on whom the story is based. This is my first drama film," Vir told PTI in an interview.

Directed by the National-award winning filmmaker Shivaji Patil, the film depicts the riots and its aftermath. Vir, who also plays a sardar in yet-to-be-released Santa-Banta, said, "The film is being shot in Ludhiana. It's based on a very sensitive issue so the responsibility was huge but I enjoyed doing it." The actor's last release Amit Sahni Ki List, a rom-com about a man's search for his dreamgirl, earned good reviews for him. "Amit Sahni Ki List was like a big test without any good marketing with low budget but it did well due to my good fan base as a comedian. Now, I'm doing studio films so I am hoping for large releases," he said.

In real life, Vir's search for the woman of his dreams ended with Mumbai-based Shivani Mathur, who he has been dating from a long time. "I'm in a relationship and that too in a committed one. Her name is Shivani and we are living together," he said. The actor started his career in Bollywood with a small role in Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Namastey London but slowly made a mark in the industry. "My journey in the industry has been similar to how you get a promotion in a company with Diwali bonus. I started out with one scene in Namastey London and went on to doing five scenes, then supporting roles and then lead roles. So, I have got a promotion everytime from this invisible boss," he said.