Indians are achieving historic success in different fields. From space to music, and now comedy. Zakir Khan became the first comedian to perform in Hindi at Madison Square Garden in New York. Hailing from the city of Indore, in Madhya Pradesh, and known for his emotive storytelling, his show was attended by 6,000 people who cheered and praised his performance with a standing ovation. He took to Instagram to share his excitement and called it a “big day”.
He also said that it was an emotional moment as it was like a dream turning into reality, as he geared up to entertain over 6,000 people in Hindi in New York. In the post, he also said that it was a feeling he would never be able to describe in words, as he thanked his friends and team for their support in his journey. The performance was part of his North America tour, where he shared the stage with comedian Tanmay Bhat. Before he went on the stage for the performance, the billboards in Times Square were lit with his face on them.
He also appeared on US media platforms and teamed up with Vikas Khana, the Indian based chef in the US, to signify the importance of the event for him and for the Hindi comedy genre. In an interview with Fox 5 New York, he said that performing at MSG was never a part of his dream, as he thought it was for stars and not a boy from Indore. Zakir got fame after his appearance on Comedy Central’s India’s Best Stand-up, and ever since then, there has been no going back, as his relatable comedy with a hint of emotion and poetry has gained a loyal fan base across the globe. He has taken the genre to several other global platforms, including his performance as the first Asian comic solo at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2013.
Making his appearance at Madison Square Garden has given him new recognition him and the Hindi comedy genre as it was never seen before.
