The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026 has been making headlines for its star-studded panels, grand movie premieres, and celebrating the diversity of Indian cinema on an international platform. But among all the serious cinematic discourse, a hilarious, unscripted exchange between acclaimed actor Vijay Varma and popular influencer-turned-host Dolly Singh has completely taken over the internet!
During the festival’s prestigious Awards Night, which Dolly Singh co-hosted, a seemingly innocent introduction quickly turned into a viral roasting session that left the audience in splits.
Here is exactly what went down on the Melbourne stage and why fans can’t get enough of Vijay Varma’s witty comeback.
The “Red Flag” Introduction
Vijay Varma has undeniably carved a unique niche for himself in Bollywood. Thanks to his spine-chilling, critically acclaimed performances as an abusive husband in Darlings and a cold-blooded serial killer in Dahaad, he has earned a rather unique (and humorous) reputation online. In the meme world, his onscreen characters have led netizens to playfully dub him the ultimate “walking red flag.”
Tapping into this internet joke, content creator and host Dolly Singh decided to introduce Vijay Varma during the IFFM event with a bit of Gen-Z flair.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Dolly can be seen hyping up the actor before he takes the stage. With a massive smile, she calls him out by referring to him as “the nation’s biggest red flag, but also the internet’s favorite green forest.”
While the audience immediately erupted into laughter at the accurate pop-culture reference, Vijay Varma had the perfect, deadpan response ready.
Vijay Varma’s Epic Roast
Never one to shy away from quick-witted banter, Vijay took the microphone, looked at Dolly Singh, and delivered a swift, hilarious roast.
“Thank you, Dolly… for your terrible compliments,” Vijay quipped with a completely straight face, sending the crowd—and Dolly herself—into absolute hysterics.
He didn’t stop there. Continuing the banter, Vijay jokingly questioned how someone could introduce a guest at an international film festival by calling them a “red flag,” while acknowledging that, unfortunately, it was a fairly accurate description of his recent filmography.
Dolly, visibly amused by the comeback, gracefully accepted the roast, proving that the two shared great off-screen camaraderie.
The Internet Reacts
As soon as the video snippet from the IFFM event hit Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), it went insanely viral. Fans flooded the comment sections, praising Vijay Varma for his unmatched sense of humor and comic timing.
- “Vijay Varma’s deadpan delivery is just too good! Dolly got roasted on her own stage,” commented one user.
- “To be fair, Dolly isn’t wrong! He plays red flags so well that he is a green flag in real life,” another fan chimed in.
- “This is the kind of organic, unscripted Bollywood banter we need at award shows!” tweeted an enthusiastic fan.
A Star-Studded Festival
Beyond the viral jokes, IFFM 2026 has been a massive celebration of Indian storytelling. Alongside Vijay Varma and Dolly Singh, the festival’s opening week was heavily attended by pan-Indian superstars including Dulquer Salmaan, Kantara star Rishab Shetty, and Manushi Chhillar.
While Vijay Varma was there to celebrate his contributions to Indian cinema (where he is regularly a favorite in the Best Actor categories), Dolly Singh marked a major international milestone by hosting the event and participating in panels discussing women in storytelling.
However, it is safe to say that for the internet, their “red flag” interaction will remain the most memorable highlight of the festival!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why did Dolly Singh call Vijay Varma a “red flag”?
Dolly Singh playfully referred to Vijay Varma as the “nation’s biggest red flag” because of his flawless portrayal of highly toxic, villainous, and abusive characters in recent hit projects like Darlings and Dahaad.
2. What was Vijay Varma’s response to Dolly Singh?
Vijay Varma hilariously roasted her back on the IFFM stage, deadpanning, “Thank you, Dolly… for your terrible compliments,” which left the audience in splits.
3. Where did this interaction take place?
The viral interaction took place at the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026, where Dolly Singh was hosting the Awards Night and Vijay Varma was in attendance.
4. What else is Dolly Singh doing at IFFM 2026?
Apart from hosting the Awards Night, Dolly Singh was invited as an official festival guest to participate in panel discussions on the evolving role of women in cinematic storytelling.
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