Indian Comic Zakir Khan to Make His MSG Debut With a Set Performed Entirely in Hindi

For proof that comedy can be as globally popular as music, Indian stand-up comic superstar Zakir Khan will make his debut at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Aug. 17 with a set performed exclusively in Hindi.

Khan, 37, who has more than 8.2 million YouTube subscribers and, according to his reps, has sold more than 200,000 tickets globally over the last three years, will play the storied venue as part of an international tour promoted by Outback Presents that will also take him to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Lauderhill, Fla., and Phoenix, as well as such Canadian cities Montreal and Toronto.

“Madison Square Garden was never part of the plan — it always felt like a place for movie scenes and big stars, not for boys from towns like mine. But sometimes, life takes you further than your dreams ever did,” says Khan, who hails from Indore in central India. “This show isn’t about making it big — it’s just a reminder that if you stay true to your journey, even a quiet voice can find its place on the loudest stage. The opportunity to represent India at a global stage like this and bring comedy from our point of view to this side of the world, the burden is fulfilling but also a humongous one, a dream I cannot wait to live.”

After dropping out of college in Indore, Khan initially pursued a career as a radio DJ but found his calling in comedy. In 2012, he won Comedy Central India’s “India’s Best Stand-Up” contest and has gone on to headline some of the world’s biggest stages. In 2023, he became the first Asian comic to play the Royal Albert Hall solo. His podcast Umeed is one of of the highest streamed in India, and English-speakers can also check out his comedy on five Amazon Prime Video specials, including Haq Se Single and this year’s Delulu Express.

The announcement of his MSG appearance describes Khan’s comedy as capturing “the emotions, struggles, and dreams of Indian households and the youth chasing success in modern India.” He has said that he used humor as a shield against the bullying he experienced as a child and his anecdotal style is often punctuated with catchphrases, such as “Sakht Launda,” which translates to “tough guy.”