By Reya Mehrotra
In less than a decade, Zarna Garg, a bestselling author, actor, standup comedian and screenwriter, seems to have become the face of the South Asian woman in the West—someone with a voice and opinion, and who talks about Indian problems yet finds a relatable global audience laughing at her sketches. From escaping an early arranged marriage to finding her life partner and eventually herself in the US, the author of This American Woman: One in a Billion has just begun the climb. As she prepares for the premiere of her second show, Practical People Win, on Hulu in July, we caught up with her to know about her idea of India, what motivates her content, lack of women in comedy, and why our funny bone doesn’t tickle so often anymore. Edited excerpts:
You started comedy only in your 40s but did you always practise it as a form of entertainment? What did you want to be growing up?
I originally wanted to be Prime Minister. When this made people laugh, I started wondering if I was funny. I was always opening my big mouth and giving unsolicited opinions on just about everything around me. In India, they told me to shut up. In America, they found it funny, and eventually I started asking them to buy tickets for it.
You have preserved your Indian identity when it comes to your appearance. Has that always been a conscious decision?
It was always a conscious decision to be true to myself. I’m too old to not be comfortable and too cranky to wear heels. Then the ‘look’ came down to the nuts and bolts of how I would work these rackety streetside clubs while still projecting authenticity and also keeping warm and keeping covered. Turns out functional is also the most authentic version. I don’t care if it looks like a flight attendant’s uniform. It makes me feel professional. You are the passengers, I am the air hostess, hold on for your lives!
You’ve lately been experimenting with GRWM (get ready with me) videos…
I saw other people doing it and getting views.
How was the journey to being recognised as an Indian-origin comedian in the West? What were the major hurdles? You’ve also embraced the stereotypes. How did that work in your favour?
The Indian thing is an asset all the way. For the price of one bindi, which is so cheap (what is the opposite of ‘priceless’?), I immediately stand out in every show, in every flyer, in all the promotional material in America. What’s not to like? Indians and India are great. I don’t consider any other point of view and I don’t deliver any other point of view. It’s fabulous all the way. Besides, there are so many Indians here, and they’re rich. You may as well call America India’s newest state.
Your children have been actively appearing in your content. Do they have a shared passion for comedy?
Maybe a shared passion for exhibitionism.
You have a successful and fun family podcast. How did you convince your family to do the show? Take us through the preps and the process of choosing subjects.
I convince them for everything by paying their bills. The preps include emotional blackmail, frantic arguments about the whereabouts of microphones and chargers, one kid inevitably running late, and telling Shalabh (husband) not to make corny jokes because he’s not a comic, he’s just married to one. The subject is what I feel like talking about in the five-second countdown before we start recording. Often, it’s about what I feel most irritated about at that moment and everyone else has been avoiding it; now we are forced to talk about it and I’m recording the whole thing.
Your content largely revolves around Indian family dynamics—especially the mother-in-law-daughter-in-law part. Is this what makes it so relatable? Why did you choose to focus on this fragment of life?
It’s not a fragment of life, it’s life itself. We all have relationships. Even the most introverted among us can sit in their caves and laugh at my comedy about all the people they’re avoiding. We are all united in the war against in-laws.
Tell us about your own relationship with your in-laws and how it evolved. Why are you such a firm believer in the cause?
My in-laws are incredibly nice, intelligent and understanding people. But that doesn’t change the fact that the relationship is complicated. Luckily, we all believe in money.
You’ve become the voice of the Indian American woman. What do you want to change about their portrayal on-screen in popular culture internationally, now that you are a part of the narrative?
We don’t have to be crying and/or quiet all the time on screen. I want brown women to laugh big and loud and ungracefully and to be shown as real people who love life and want to enjoy it and be a part of it in its full glory—most notably in monetising their happiness.
There have been voices that say your content represents an archaic image of India – power cuts, water shortage, and so on. What’s your take on this? What’s your idea of India, and when did you last visit India?
I’m so sorry to disappoint everybody but I actually visit India frequently and make fresh observations constantly.
My comedy friend touring India recently had to cancel a show while being on stage because his mic was cut off. My idea of India is that it is loud, it is messy, it is complicated and it’s incredible. It’s like the bad boyfriend you can’t get enough of—he has a lot of opinions about how you look, he has no self-reflection, and we still love him because of his amazing outfits.
We have had few voices of women in comedy, especially from India. You, on the other hand, have shattered the stereotypes by being your own true self. Why do you think standup lacks female voices? What’s the reaction you get when you perform for an Indian audience vs the audience abroad?
Standup comedy itself is new in India. We’re working our way through. I have tremendous respect for all Indian stand-up comics and even more so the women. Why we lack female voices… this may be breaking news, but we’re not exactly a culture that celebrates outspoken women. Audiences abroad know not to take everything personally whereas the No. 1 thing comics hear from an Indian audience is ‘we love jokes, but this is too much’. No, sir, that’s the joke, the ‘too much’ part of it is the joke. Without the ‘too much’ part, it’s a documentary.
What’s your take on censorship in comedy? Why are we losing our sense of humour? What do you keep in mind while writing sketches? Do you agree with freedom of expression in comedy?
As the ringleader of #justicefordaughterinlaws I believe in full freedom, full stop. We never really had a sense of humour because we are not people who believe in fun, and overall, I agree with a boring, hardworking life. The only exception I make is for my own shows.
Indian stand-up artistes have faced backlash because of content that is taken to be inappropriate. Have you faced anything like this in America? Do you self-censor?
There are haters everywhere but we persevere because we are doing god’s work. I don’t self-censor in America. Generally, the more unhinged, the better. However, my kids have been known to take my phone away from me when I’m having a cocktail.
Tell us about your upcoming show Practical People Win on Hulu. What can we expect and how was it conceptualised?
My second comedy special, Practical People Win, is coming out on Hulu in July. It was conceptualised as a successful follow-up comedy special to my first one, One in a Billion, which is a super hit on Amazon’s Prime Video. I conceptualised it as a public service message to all the dumb idiots out there who want to ‘follow their bliss’ instead of following their mom’s advice. Everyone needs to shut up, sit down, watch, and then thank me.
Tell us about your future sketches and shows. Anything in the works post July?
Let’s pray the world is still standing post-July. And if it is, I’ll throw a military parade.
Reya Mehrotra is a freelancer