One of the most favorite TV shows, Bhabhiji is at homeReady to make the jump from television to the big screen. with the movie Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain: Fun on the Run Set to release across theaters on February 6, producer Vihaan Kohli spoke exclusively to India Today about expanding the Virasat IP, taking comedy forward in changing times and why audience trust has been crucial to the show’s decade-long success.

From his international training to returning to filmmaking in India, Kohli reflects on the journey behind Bhabhiji is at home And what’s next for his production company. Excerpts from the conversation.

Bhabhiji is at home Has been on television for almost a decade. Why make it a film now?

In the ninth year, in 2024, we started discussions and in the 10th year, the film went on floors. It felt like the perfect milestone. In the midst of our shooting, we celebrated 2,500 episodes. The film is a love letter to the viewers who have supported the show for 10 years. This is a chance to take it to the next level and serve them in a new format.
The show was initially envisioned as a late-night adult comedy.

How did you go about making a family-friendly film?

When the show started, it was seen as a late-night show for couples. But over the years the audience started trusting the brand. From research we learned that it had become a family show, which we always found entertaining. The show has never crossed a line; There is nothing cheap in this. So children started watching it. For the film, we slowed it down a bit to accommodate a younger audience, while still maintaining the familiar flavor. We also got U/A certification. And then with the involvement of actors like Ravi ji and Mukesh sir, it added an extra twist.

The show recently saw a change in the cast with the return of Shilpa Shinde. And the film stars Shubhangi Atre, who has played the role for the last decade. Do you think this will affect the status of the film?

I don’t think so. The film has its own adventure, a spin-off type. This has no direct relation with the show. We wanted to experiment with the horror comedy genre and so we got a new season and Shilpa decided to come back. Everyone loves her as the OG Bhabhi and we are very happy to have her. But I must also say that Shubhangi did an amazing job. So I don’t think it will have any impact, as both can co-exist successfully.

Comedy is often said to be the most difficult genre. Do you agree?

Making people laugh is a serious business. There is no substitute for joke landing. And today, it’s also your responsibility to make sure it lands without hurting anyone. This is the real challenge.

And what is your opinion on television as a medium today? Is it still relevant in the time of OTT and films?

Television is incredibly powerful. It reaches the last mile of India in a way films and OTT still can’t. The stories on TV are often dismissed by urban audiences, but they are deeply rooted in India. This is a medium that really penetrates.
Tell us a little about yourself and your journey so far.

I come from a family that has been very famous in television. My parents are highly respected in the industry, so storytelling was always around me. I started with acting and did a few episodes of FIR. Then I went to USC (University of Southern California), which is the best film school in the world. I went in with a scholarship, got my degree in the Business of Cinematic Arts program, and was soon interning at Atmosphere Entertainment, which has made big movies like 300, Den of Thieves, and other blockbusters.

I learned about the entire development cycle, budgeting, options like legal clauses, first-look deals and right of refusal; Things which are now becoming very relevant in India with platforms like Netflix and Amazon. After that, I worked at Fox Searchlight, where I was part of the global marketing and distribution team, and that taught me how to position films around the world.

Post-Covid, I was feeling disconnected from on-ground film production and wanted to understand what really happens on the sets. So I joined Fighter as an assistant director. I went from a studio environment to being an intern on set, learning VFX, logistics and how things actually work. Today, sitting in the producer’s chair, I feel confident because I understand both sides.

Given your background in marketing, what is the biggest challenge in getting audiences to theaters today?

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I don’t think we are facing any challenge in bringing people to theaters because it is a legacy IP. People know what they are getting. However, the real challenge in India is ticket pricing. People are used to getting content at home. But this is the new India; We have seen the success of young, Pathan, stalwartAnd even smaller films without A-list stars are doing well. If people are entertained, they are willing to pay.

After working internationally, what impresses you the most about the Indian entertainment industry?

Relationships. Abroad, it’s endless lawyers, managers, agents. Everyone has access here. Any crew member can call me, Binefer madam or Sanjay sir (his parents, Binefer and Sanjay Kohli) directly. Everyone deserves respect because they are coming into our house and adding magic. Every person contributes something that cannot be measured.”

There is also talk that you want to pursue acting. is that true?

I am a trained actor. I have trained at Le Strasbourg with Atul Mongia sir, and I have improved professionally in LA. I got a scholarship to Groundlings, where many SNL (Saturday Night Live) actors trained. I believe we are the generation of the hyphen. You can be a producer, writer, director or actor. See how the South is doing – Pradeep Ranganathan as director, writer and actor of Love Today. Why should anyone be confined to one role?

After all, what do you want to create here? What kind of stories do you want to tell next?

Bhabhiji is at homeThe film is releasing and we are also doing a comedy show for a major OTT platform, which I can’t talk about right now. There are three more projects in development. This is the film and OTT wing that we are developing within the company.
Comedy will always be our forte, but we are mixing it with emotions. We make you laugh, and when you least expect it, we hit you with emotion, then pull you back. We are also exploring other genres. We come from a military family, and we keep asking why we haven’t done anything yet in the defense sector. Those are stories we’ve lived with, and we want to tell them honestly. Asif Shaikh, Rohitashv Gaur, Shubhangi Atre, Vidisha Srivastava, Ravi Kishan and other actors,

Bhabhiji is at home! fun to run Set for theatrical release on February 6, 2026.