Vir Das's 'journey has been nothing short of extraordinary'

New Delhi: Actor-comic Vir Das has become the first Indian to win the International Emmy Award for his ‘Netflix’ stand-up special ‘Vir Das: Landing’ in the ‘Best Comedy’ category and dedicated the honour to his home country, India.

The 51st International Emmy Awards Gala was held at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City late Monday night.

This was the second nomination and maiden win in the segment for Das, who shared the trophy with the popular British teen sitcom ‘Derry Girls’ in season three. He said he has immense gratitude for holding the International Emmy trophy for best comedy for ‘Vir Das: Landing’, his fourth stand-up special with the streamer.

“This one is for my team and for ‘Netflix’, without whom this wouldn’t have been possible. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary and to win this accolade for my fifth special with ‘Netflix’ feels like a culmination of passion, perseverance and the undying support of people around the globe who have given so much love to ‘Vir Das: Landing’,” the comedian said.

For him, this award isn’t just a recognition of his work but a celebration of the diverse stories and voices from India. “Stories that make us laugh, reflect and most importantly, unite. This one is for India, for Indian comedy and for the community of artists at large,” the comic added.

Every year, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences conducts the International Emmys to honour ‘the world’s best television’.

Renowned producer Ektaa R Kapoor was honoured with the International Emmy Directorate Award for her significant contribution to the world of arts and entertainment. Kapoor, the co-founder of production house ‘Balaji Telefilms’, said she is delighted to receive the prestigious award. She is the first Indian woman filmmaker to be bestowed with this recognition.

“It brings me immense joy and happiness to be honoured on a global scale, such as this. I’ve always wanted to tell stories because they give me a chance to be heard, seen and represented. I am grateful for the audience’s love that has opened doors for me, allowing me to transition from television to the world of films and OTT,” she said.

She added, “Each story that I told became a bridge to connect with audiences on many levels. The unexpected turns this journey took are a testament to the power of love showered by the people of India and beyond. My heart is filled with gratitude and a stronger resolve to make a positive impact through my work for audiences.”