Mumbai, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Popular comedian and actor Zakir Khan has shared that he spent nearly one year and eight months saving Rs 500 to register for his first open mic performance, a step that eventually marked the beginning of his stand-up comedy journey.
Speaking on actor Gopal Datt’s ‘Pehla Pehla’ podcast, Zakir opened up about his early struggles and the difficult phase of his life before finding success in comedy.
Recalling his hardships, he said there were times when his family struggled for basic necessities. “We used to eat once a day. Once every two or three months, there were situations when we did not get food for three days,” he said.
Zakir said that during those challenging days, a friend named Vishwas encouraged him to pursue comedy and told him that he had the potential to become one of the best comedians in India.
The comedian recalled discovering stand-up comedy through the internet while sitting in a cyber cafe. However, taking the first step was not easy due to financial constraints.
He said the registration fee for an open mic performance was Rs 500, which was a significant amount for him at that time.
“For someone like us, it was very high. So, it took me about one year and eight months to save Rs 500,” Zakir said.
However, his first performance did not go as planned. He explained that a comedian often imagines a joke working in a particular way, but the audience response depends on several factors, including the atmosphere, people’s mindset and social circumstances.
“When I went there for the first time to do it, it didn’t work. There is something in your mind. Everyone who does comedy knows that they think something will be funny, but something else happens on stage,” he said.
Zakir added that while the audience laughed, they were laughing because the performance did not go as expected.
The comedian’s journey from struggling to afford an open mic registration to becoming one of India’s most recognised stand-up performers has often been cited as an example of perseverance and determination.
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