'Raakh' is my first serious film: Comedian Vir Das

After the buzz around his upcoming film Delhi Belly subsides, comedian and actor Vir Das will be readying for the release of his first serious film Raakh.

The stand-up comedian, who has acted in a handful of Bollywood films including Badmaash Company and Mumbai
Salsa, will be seen opposite Raima Sen in the Tanuja Chandra directed movie.

"Raakh is my first serious dramatic movie. It's a small film set in a rural Bhopal. It is my first serious role, I don't think I have smiled in the entire movie. We have wrapped
shooting recently, it will come out a few months after Delhi Belly," Vir told PTI.

Despite being a comedian, Vir has decided not to play funny roles in movies. He insisted that even though Delhi Belly is an adult comedy, his character is quite a sad one.

"I play a sad person in the film. Horrible things happen to my character in the course of the movie - he is unhappy with his job and is dumped by his girlfriend. I don't act
funny in the film, the comedy happens in spite of it," he said.
    

The Aamir Khan production hasDas playing one of the three young men in north Delhi, who go through three horrible days. The film also stars Imran Khan and newcomer Kunal Roy Kapoor. Das said he struck up a good camaraderie with the two while shooting for the movie.

"I have never had so much fun while working on any movie. The movie entirely hinges upon the chemistry between the three
boys, so we worked hard at becoming friends."

After playing bit-roles in films like Namastey London and Love Aaj Kal, the 32-year-old came into limelight with Shahid Kapoor starrer Badmaash Company last year and is
now looking forward to Delhi Belly release.

Das said he prefers to take one film at a time and not rush with his movie offers. "More scripts have been coming in ever since the promos of Delhi Belly have been out, so I will be a bit careful about what I choose next. I like to have a gap between my movies.

Also, I don't want to neglect my career as a stand-up comedian."
    

Das is currently on one of his stand-up comedy tours which will take him to about 20 countries. He also has a band of his own, named Alien Chutney and is venturing into making music for Bollywood films.
    

"Alien Chutney is a new project. There are so many bands in India and we have to prove ourselves. If all goes well, one of my films that is going on floor next year will have 50 per
cent of its music composed by my band," said Das.
    

Being a graduate in economics and theatre from Knox College, Illinois and having studied at the Harvard University, Vir says Bollywood was not on his scheme of
things.
   

"I have no clue what I am doing in Bollywood! If I had any planning ability I would have been an investment banker. Its just that a lot of opportunities presented themselves and
I said yes to them, so here I am," adds Das.