Vir Das opens up about approaching Aamir Khan for his directorial debut Happy Patel: "Never seen a superstar who is so accessible"

At the heart of the film is Vir Das, who not only directs but also stars as Happy Patel, a self-styled international spy whose escapades drive the story.

• Vir Das recalls Aamir Khan's quick support for Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos
• Aamir Khan agreed after nine narrations and funded a test shoot for the film
• Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos releases in theatres on January 16, 2026

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Vir Das recently spoke about his experience of meeting Aamir Khan for his upcoming directorial venture, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos. He highlighted how a superstar truly supports a project when he genuinely believes in it.

Recalling the encounter, Vir shared that approaching Aamir felt somewhat intimidating given the immense respect he commands.

He said, “He is on such a high pedestal that you don’t really communicate much with him. I hadn’t spoken to Aamir sir for almost 10 years. Then I messaged him saying, ‘Aamir sir, can I call you?’ He replied, ‘Yes, call now.’ And when he picked up, it felt like we speak every week.”

Vir went on to explain how straightforwardly he pitched his film to Aamir Khan, “So I told him, ‘Sir, I have a film with me and I want you to make it. If you don’t make it, no one else will.’ He said, ‘Okay, come next week and give me the narration.’ I have never seen a superstar who is so accessible and gives you a meeting so quickly. I gave him the narration, and after that there were nine more narrations. His main concern is always the script. After nine narrations, he said, ‘Take some money and shoot five scenes.’ I did the test shoot, and then he said, ‘Go on floors.’”

At the heart of the film is Vir Das, who not only directs but also stars as Happy Patel, a self-styled international spy whose escapades drive the story. The promotional material and official trailer emphasize humor, presenting a wild mix of satire, action, romance, and zany comedy, promising to deliver a fresh and entertaining experience for audiences.

Also read: Aamir Khan Productions’ Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos gears up for January 16 release with star-studded spy comedy

Produced under Aamir Khan Productions, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos is directed by Vir Das and also features Mona Singh, Sharib Hashmi, and Mithila Palkar in pivotal roles. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 16th January, 2026.