NEW DELHI, Sept 24: Indian entertainment has received international recognition with ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’ securing a nomination in the Drama Series category at the 2026 International Emmy Awards, while comedian and actor Vir Das earned his third nomination for his stand up special ‘Vir Das: Fool Volume’.
The nominations were announced on September 23, with India receiving two entries across different categories. The recognition puts a series inspired by the real-life story of a football club from Jammu and Kashmir alongside international productions competing for one of television’s prominent global awards.
‘Real Kashmir Football Club’, which premiered on SonyLIV in December 2025, features actors Manav Kaul and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in key roles. Directed by Rajesh Mapuskar and Mahesh Mathai, the series draws inspiration from the journey of Real Kashmir FC, which became the first professional football club from Jammu and Kashmir.
The nomination comes in the Drama Series category, where the Indian production will compete against three other nominated programmes: ‘A Thousand Blows’, ‘Carême’ and ‘Menem’. The recognition marks a significant moment for the team behind the series, which used the story of a football club to build a larger narrative around people, ambition and life in Kashmir.
Manav Kaul welcomed the nomination and described the series as one of his favourite works. He also expressed happiness for the entire team and its efforts.
The show is based on the real-life development of Real Kashmir FC, a club established in 2016. Its sporting journey became closely associated with football’s growth in the region and later received wider attention after the team competed at the national level.
By turning that journey into a fictionalised drama series, the makers brought the club’s story to a wider entertainment audience. The International Emmy nomination now gives the production another international platform.
Vir Das receives third International Emmy nomination
The second Indian entry comes from Vir Das, who has been nominated in the Comedy category for ‘Vir Das: Fool Volume’.
This marks Das’ third International Emmy nomination. His first nomination came in 2021 for ‘Vir Das: For India’, while his second arrived in 2023 for ‘Vir Das: Landing’. He won the International Emmy for ‘Landing’ in 2023.
The latest nomination places ‘Fool Volume’ alongside three other comedy nominees: ‘Division Palermo: Season 2’, ‘Man vs Baby’ and ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’.
Das described the new nomination as an unexpected moment, noting the personal circumstances surrounding the creation of the special. He thanked Netflix, his team and those involved in bringing the production to audiences.
The nomination also adds another chapter to Das’ international awards journey. His previous Emmy recognition for ‘Landing’ established him as one of the Indian comedians to gain substantial attention on the global television awards circuit.
With ‘Fool Volume’, Das now returns to the competition with another stand up production.
A wider international platform for Indian stories
The two nominations represent different areas of Indian entertainment. ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’ comes from the scripted drama space and is rooted in a regional sporting story, while Das’ entry represents Indian stand-up comedy.
Their presence on the International Emmy nominations list also reflects the range of Indian productions being distributed to audiences beyond the domestic market.
For the makers of ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’, the nomination is particularly significant because the show’s central story is tied to Jammu and Kashmir. The series brings the football club’s journey into a scripted format while introducing characters and dramatic situations around its development.
The production premiered on SonyLIV in December 2025 and has since attracted attention for its cast and subject. Its International Emmy nomination gives the series a new international audience beyond its original streaming release.
The story behind Real Kashmir FC
The real-life football club that inspired the series was established in Srinagar and became an important part of the region’s football landscape.
The club’s progress from a local initiative to professional competition provided the foundation for the television adaptation. The series uses that sporting background as the setting for a broader drama involving the people connected to the club.
The International Emmy nomination comes less than a year after the show’s premiere, making the recognition a notable development in its journey.
The nomination also highlights the growing role of streaming platforms in taking Indian regional stories to wider audiences. Instead of focusing only on established metropolitan settings, the series draws from the sporting and social environment of Kashmir.
What the nominations mean for Indian entertainment
The 2026 nominations provide Indian television and streaming productions with an opportunity to compete alongside programmes from several countries.
For ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’, the nomination puts the series in direct competition with other international drama productions. For Vir Das, it represents another appearance on the International Emmy stage following his earlier nominations and win.
The final results will determine whether either Indian entry takes home an award. Until then, the nominations themselves provide international recognition for the projects and their teams.
The awards also underline the variety of Indian content reaching international platforms. A regional sports drama and an English-language stand-up special have both found space among this year’s nominees.
The International Emmy recognition gives the teams behind both productions an opportunity to reach audiences and industry professionals beyond India.
For the cast and creators of ‘Real Kashmir Football Club’, the nomination offers international attention to a story inspired by the development of professional football in Jammu and Kashmir. For Das, it extends a three-nomination run that began with ‘For India’ and continued with his Emmy-winning ‘Landing’.
With the nominations now announced, attention will turn to the awards ceremony and the final results in both categories.