Indian comedian Zakir Khan has added another milestone to his journey, making headlines for his record-breaking performance in New York. Known for his earthy humour and ability to connect with audiences in their own language, Zakir Khan has now achieved something never done before; bringing Hindi stand-up comedy to Madison Square Garden, one of the world’s most iconic venues.

Zakir Khan has become the first Indian to perform a Hindi comedy show at Madison Square Garden. The show saw around 6,000 people in attendance and ended with the comic receiving a standing ovation. To mark the achievement, he also shared pictures of his posters lighting up New York’s famous Times Square.

Sharing his emotions on social media, Zakir Khan posted pictures and videos from the show and wrote:

“To entertain 6,000 people in Hindi at Madison Square Garden—it’s a feeling I can’t describe. This will always remain a special milestone.”

Indian-origin American comedian Hasan Minhaj was among those present for the show and applauded Zakir Khan’s achievement.

He took to Instagram to say,“A historic night for comedy around the world! Last night I got to see my brother @zakirkhan_208 aka Zakir Bhai become the first comedian in history to headline @thegarden entirely in Hindi.”

Who is Zakir Khan?

Zakir Khan was born in Indore and comes from a family deeply rooted in music. He is the grandson of Sarangi Maestro Ustad Moinuddin Khan, while his father is also known to have taught music.

Although he left college, Zakir completed a diploma in Sitar. His years in Delhi were filled with struggle, including a period of three years without a job.

It was during that time that he realised his love for stand-up comedy. On Kaun Banega Crorepati, he revealed that those years of unemployment shaped his journey into comedy.

His breakthrough came in 2012 when he won Comedy Central’s India’s Best Stand-Up contest, which made him an instant favourite with audiences. He went on to work with AIB in On Air with AIB and later grew his presence with several stand-up specials.

In 2017, he released his first solo special ‘Haq Se Single Hai’. Since then, he has performed hit shows such as ‘Tathastu’, ‘Manpasand’, and ‘Delulu Express’.

Zakir Khan has appeared as a judge and host on various shows. He was one of the judges in ‘Comicstaan Season 2’ and, in 2024, hosted a programme called ‘Aapka Apna Zakir’. On screen, he has also acted in the Prime Video series ‘Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare’.

In 2023, Zakir Khan became the first Asian comedian to perform solo at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Today, he has around 6.9 million Instagram followers, reflecting his wide popularity.

Reports suggest that his net worth stands at around ₹26.6 crore, according to Sovernn.