Culture

Comedy is a difficult job, says Zakir Khan

Debarati Palit Singh

What’s the thing that irritates you the most while watching a film on television? Numerous advertisements that get aired during the screening and disturb the viewing experience. To cut down the breaks, stand-up comedian Zakir Khan has come up with an act for Star Gold Select SD, which will be launched soon. 

The stand-up comedian says, “There are so many ads on television. But Star Gold Select SD has only one ad break just like in movie theatres,” says Zakir who appears during the break and talks about how ads are an issue. “Every channel has ads. During the break if you are channel surfing, you don’t have an option but watch the commercials because they are screened everywhere,” he adds. 

A well-known name in the stand-up comedy circle, Zakir will also be seen as a mentor on the TV show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 5. “We are about to start shooting for the show and I am kicked about it. We hope season 5  turns out just like the previous seasons. The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is an inspiring show for me because I had tried auditioning for it but didn’t get through,” he says. 

Zakir, however, believes that understanding comedy comes from within. “You can tell aspiring comedians where they are going wrong, but you can’t teach them comedy,” he says. 

The genre is seeing a steady growth with comedians emerging from every nook and corner of the country. But Zakir, who had gained popularity for his video AIB Diwas and the phrase, ‘Sakht Launda Pighal Gaya’, says that there’s still a gap between demand and supply. “There’s still time for us to reach cut-throat competition. It’s not like singing and acting. There are singers and actors almost in every household but you won’t find comedians. We are yet to become an industry,” he says, adding that it’s not easy to make people laugh. 

“Comedy is a difficult job. You are basically playing with people’s mind. As a comedian, you too have to keep evolving and go to multiple levels and keep up with the changing times,” he further says.  

The comedian, who has won the title of India’s Best Stand Up Comedian in a show by Comedy Central India, says that comedy comes from dark phases of life. “It’s true that comedy emerges from dark phases of life. Some of the best comedy acts are very dark. People who understand that will realise it,” says Zakir who enjoys Santa Banta jokes. 

Not many know that Zakir comes from a family who has been into music for generations but he decided to break the norm and get into comedy. “I first wanted to be a Radio Jockey. But had I gone for a corporate job, I wouldn’t have enjoyed performance pressure and doing the same thing for 10 years,” he says before signing off. 

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