Zakir Khan
Comedian Zakir Khan recently announced that he would be taking a break from stand-up comedy. While he had earlier mentioned that the decision was to prioritise his health, he has now clarified that the pause is largely to focus on pending creative work. He also addressed rumours about his health, saying it is "not as bad" as being portrayed in the media.
Over the weekend, Zakir interacted with the audience at Spoken Fest, where he spoke about the reason behind his break. He said it was also an opportunity to catch up on writing that had been pending for years.
"The story about my break is that I had a lot of writing work that I hadn't been able to do for the past six years. My health is a little bad, not very bad. What you've read on the internet is false. All these unnecessary things are just rubbish. The people writing it are also terrible, and on top of that, they mention that a very close family source has confirmed this. My family stays with me, so we see each other's faces asking who said anything?" he said.
Last year in September, Zakir Khan took to Instagram Stories and wrote, "I have been touring for the last 10 years. Though I am extremely blessed to receive your love and affection, this kind of extensive touring is not very healthy. Trying to satisfy everyone you meet, 2-3 shows a day, sleepless nights, early morning flights and, of course, no timetable for meals. Net-net, I have been unwell for the past year but had to keep working because it was necessary at that time. Jinko pata hai, unko pata hai."
While performing remains his passion, Zakir admitted that prioritising his health had become unavoidable. "I absolutely love being on stage, but now I may have to take a small break. I've actually been postponing it for over a year. Before things go out of hand, it's better to take care of myself. So, this time the India tour will have limited cities. I won't be able to add too many extra shows, and after recording this special, I've been advised to take a longer break," he added.
Over the years, Zakir has released multiple stand-up specials and hosted shows like Aapka Apna Zakir. He has carved a niche for himself in the comedy space, with a fan following that extends internationally. He made headlines when he performed at Royal Albert Hall, reportedly receiving a 20-minute standing ovation. In 2025, he performed a Hindi show at Madison Square Garden, becoming one of the first Indian comedians to deliver a sold-out Hindi performance at the iconic venue.
