‘Happy Patel budget equal to Border 2’s catering budget’: Vir Das reveals Aamir Khan did 28 focus screenings to test the film

Vir also shared that after hearing the script, Aamir conducted a “director audition” for both him and Kavi, (a practice the superstar has previously followed with directors like Kiran Rao and Advait Chandan when they were making their first films under his banner). “He asked us to shoot five scenes of the film, not at the production level, of course. He just wanted to see how we moved the camera. He saw the 14-minute clip we came up with and greenlit the project.”

Imran Khan, Vir Das and Aamir Khan in the trailer of Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos.

Aamir also conducted focus group screenings, or “test screenings,” to gauge audience reactions. Vir described it as a real gruesome test: “We had 28 of them. And these were not for industry people. They were with a normal audience and each time of different demographics. At the end of every screening, Aamir came and told everybody, ‘If you like the film, we are happy. But for the next two hours no praise. Tell us, what’s wrong.’ And from the feedback we received, we made our third and final cut.”

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Happy Patel Budget Equal to Catering Budget of Border 2

When asked about the film’s budget, Vir was candid: “Our film’s cost might be equal to the catering budget of Border 2.” He also addressed the viral AI-generated image circulating on social media, which features his spy character alongside other iconic Hindi film spies such as Ranveer Singh from Dhurandhar, Tiger, Pathaan, and Kabir from Spy Universe. Reacting humorously, he said: “I think every joint family dinner table needs an idiot. You should imagine Tiger, Pathaan, Kabir and Ranveer’s Hamza from Dhurandhar all sitting together and I am the fool who also gets a seat.”

Previously, while speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival about the current climate for comedians in India, Vir Das was unequivocal. “My jokes are very much the same abroad as they are in India,” he said. “I do exactly the same show, no matter where, Mars, Pluto, Bhopal or New York.”