‘I’m not seeking approval from Bollywood’: Zakir Khan reflects on his journey so far

When Zakir Khan started doing comedy almost 10 years ago, he was ridiculed for not having the ‘X-factor’ in him. “People would say ‘Tum mein woh baat nahi hai’, adding that while I’m a good writer, I am not a good performer,” says the stand-up artiste, whose show tickets, today, sell like hot cakes. “I learnt by trial and error. So, I value raw talent. When I see good writers who may not be performing that well, I get that underdog feeling and I feel I’m on their side,” he smiles. The much-loved comedian, writer and actor who played the protagonist in the web series Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare and popular stand-up specials Haq Se Single and Kaksha Gyarvi, is now the judge on Comicstaan Season 2...

From being judged to judging others, does it feel surreal to achieve so much in such less time?

More than anything else, I am thankful every day of my life. I’m the son of a music teacher from Indore and there are so many people in Mumbai who love me. I have been trying to do comedy since the past 10 years and have been doing it professionally since the past eight years. It’s just that since four years people have come to know me. So, it’s not like I have achieved fame overnight. It’s just that now I’m getting a chance to share with others what I have learnt in the last 10 years.

Do you think this comedy boom is just a phase? 

There is something called fad, and another is culture. Culture doesn’t die, fads do. Bell bottoms will come and go but people will continue wearing pants! (Laughs) Laughter is an emotion, so that will never go out of business.

What do you think has been the biggest reason in people connecting with you and your brand of comedy?

Uska ek bada hissa social change hai. People are not looking for heroes who are out of their reach. 

Zakir Khan

They are finding inspiration in those who are like them or look like them. Woh popularity nahi, pratinidhi (representative) dhoondh rahe hain. As comedians, we fill that gap. We have connected with them via digital space which is a democratic system. People have watched us out of personal choice and liked us for who we represent. You watch a film with 200 people, but when you watch an internet show, aap usko akele chhaati se laga ke dekhte ho. Usse zyada vulnerable moment koi nahi hai.

Is there something you want to work upon when it comes to your performance?

Mere saare dost English mein bahot comedy karte hain. I’m not so comfortable with the language. When we go and perform at international destinations, my friends do two-three more shows because they can speak in English. I feel that if I better my English, then maybe even I can do more shows, some open mics. I will get self-satisfaction from that.

Have there been any offers from Bollywood?

Some offers have come but as an industry and as an individual, I’m not seeking approval from Bollywood. We have our own work and that’s going just fine. Then, the offers are often ambiguous and dubious. Aur hamein samajh aata hai! We see through the bullshit (laughs). Everybody assumes that if you have come to Mumbai for work, you want to become a hero. And if you say no to them, they get offended! But we have our own journey and that pit stop hasn’t come in my journey where I feel I need to do something in Bollywood. I’m good in my own universe.