One of the biggest names in the Indian stand-up comedy circuit, Zakhir Khan scripted history on Monday by becoming the first-ever Indian comedian to perform a sold-out Hindi comedy set at Madison Square Garden, one of the most prestigious performance destinations in New York City.
One of India’s most viewed comedians on YouTube, who is known for his relatable humour, poetry and “sakth launda” persona, Zakir Khan celebrates this milestone with his fans on Instagram through an emotional post.
What did Zakir say?
“Anjaan desh, paraye logon ke beech itna pyar karne wale log mil gaye, aur kya hi chahiye. Log bahut door-door se drive kar ke aaye the, bahut se log toh 2-3 ghante ki flight se bhi aaye the. Main yeh sab kabhi bhool nahi paunga. It was big for me, for comedy in India, and for our desi culture here,” the Indian comedian from Indore posted on Instagram
Zakir went on to thank all his friends and fans who have continuously supported him throughout his stand-up career, stating that reaching this milestone would not have been as special without them.
A part of his post read, “I am still processing… Thode din baad theek se bataunga kaisa laga. Abhi ke liye samajh lo ki it was a big day, not just because of the venue or capacity, but because some of my favourite people were in the audience that day.”
“@vikaskhannagroup bhai, who is opening the best restaurants in the world, called @bungalowny in New York. @kalpenn bhai, he left his rehearsal just to support me,” Zakir wrote.
From Kal Penn to Tanmay Bhatt: These celebrities came to witness Zakir Khan’s iconic moment in NYC
The list of famous attendees at Zakir Khan’s historic show in NYC featured several prominent Indian and Indian American artists across genres. The celebrity line-up included Ali Sethi, whom Zakir referred to as ‘one of the greatest musicians of all time’ in his Instagram post thanking his supporters and fans.
Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, who recently started NYC’s best Indian restaurant, ‘Bungalow,’ was also present in the crowd. Khanna commemorated his friend’s moment by posting a heartfelt note on Instagram, congratulating his friend on inspiring millions of Indians with his achievement.
American actor and comedian Kal Penn, Indian internet celebrity Tanmay Bhatt, who was Zakir’s mentor from his early comedy days, and Hasan Minhaj also marked their presence at an event that was popularly touted to be a big movement for Indian comedy. Both Hasan and Tanmay opened the show for Zakir.