Back in 2009, Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan had collaborated as hosts for the Filmfare Awards. The duo was a hit on stage as they entertained the audience. However, one moment from the night that still resurfaces often is when the hosts mocked Neil Nitin Mukesh’s name. Neil was seated in the audience when the hosts pointed out how long his name is. Now, comedian Vir Das, who wrote the script for the 2009 awards, has revealed the truth behind the viral moment.

Vir Das on Neil Nitin Mukesh joke

After the Oscars 2026 broadcast, Vir Das took to social media to explain why India does not have major comedians hosting awards like Conan O'Brien or Ricky Gervais. He noted that male star egos make roasting tricky on stage during award events. Reacting to his note, a netizen recalled the famous 2009 clip and wrote, “I remember Neil Nitin Mukesh getting offended when SRK (& Saif?) cracked a joke on his name.”