Hi friends! If you remember (and even if you don’t), I had written a post on my favourite Indian English standup comics a while back. As someone who likes to consume Indian and international content, I had a great time putting together my Indian recommendations for you. Many of you had mentioned not knowing about them making sharing my personal favourites a good decision. Taking that list forward, in this post I’m talking about some famous and lesser-known names in Indian Hindi Standup Comedy that I often enjoy watching.
We Indians love laughing at others’ expense, don’t we? Little wonder then that we’ve had endless seasons of The Laughter Challenge, Comedy Circus and many more. Switching channels and losing its top artists couldn’t put a dent in The Kapil Sharma Show’s increasing popularity although its brand of humour can be offensive to some. Instagram reels have helped tap into new and young audiences that readily lap up funny content. Hence, the Indian Hindi Standup Comedy with its reach and educated comics is seeing some good times.
This has to be a no-brainer. One of the most famous faces in the Indian standup comedy scene, Bassi’s crackling self-deprecating humour is killer. A lawyer by education, he could’ve been a judge’s nightmare if he ever faced one. His jokes and timing are bang on every time and leave one in splits. His language can be a bit strong for younger audiences at times though. Don’t miss his amazing chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar if you haven’t seen it already.
Varsh recommends: UPSC, Roommate, Dubai tales
Abhishek’s videos were recommended to me by a friend and I was quickly hooked. A chemical engineer, he is a rare comedian with a lisp and is completely unapologetic about it. His meme about police ‘working from office’ with mobile location data to solve crimes went viral back when it came out. His lines are simple and jokes set in the most mundane situations, making you wonder how you missed observing them. I’m a big fan of his tongue-in-cheek humour.
Varsh recommends: Delhi, Mumbai and rich people, Indian insults and comebacks, Employee no.1
Ravi Gupta had appeared way back in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and bowled over judges Shekhar Suman and Archana Puran Singh with his performances. He’s now one of the best Hindi comics in Indian Hindi standup comedy. He roasts his family, office, and colleagues in the funniest ways and never needs to use harsh words for it. His amazing wit and relatability with our lives on many levels are hilarious and uncanny. His local dialect adds a fun element to everything he says.
Varsh recommends: Parents, Office, Japan vs India
Undeservingly one of the lesser-known comics, Vinay’s forte is his ability to leave you in splits with his relatable everyday jokes. An IITian and Rajasthani, he brings a refreshing blend of sarcasm and intelligence to Indian Hindi standup comedy. Everything from his baldness and huge family to his maid and neighbours are smartly used in his content. His friends make hilarious appearances in some acts too. He’s one of the few comics that doesn’t rely on crowd work and keeps his audience craving for more.
Varsh recommends: Dumb Charades Reloaded, Big Family, Pink Halwa
Ashish gained immense fame after winning Comicstaan 3 and rightly so. A reluctant teacher in his earlier life, his hilarious acts make one wonder what he and his students must have been subjected to back then! Ashish’s USP is his clean comedy while tickling your funny bone with his stories. His animated expressions are sometimes better than his jokes. In addition to his acts, his Pretty Good Roast Show with fellow comics like Harsh Gujral and celebrities Huma Qureshi and Kusha Kapila has been extremely successful.
Varsh recommends: Behen Ki Shaadi, Teacher vs Students
While Johnny Lever was and is the face of Indian Hindi Standup Comedy, it’s great to see so many new people come in and add freshness to the comedy scene. Many others like Zakir Khan, Amit Tandon, Rahul Dua, Devesh Dixit, and more have different styles, topics, and perspectives that are a treat to watch. Certainly, a good way to brighten up a boring day!
How many of these comics did you know about? Do you have any favourites too? Let’s hear them!
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024
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I loved this list! I’m going to keep coming back to it. I love love loved Bassi’s Dubai tales. I laughed so hard I had a stitch in my side and tears in my eyes.