Hasan Minhaj fanboys over Zakir Khan's all-Hindi MSG show, jokes 'my parents love him more than me'

Time of India

10 hours ago

When two worlds of comedy collide—one in Hindi, one in English—you get a moment that transcends language. On a historic night at Madison Square Garden recently, Indian stand-up sensation Zakir Khan made history with a full house and a full Hindi set. Watching from the wings and cheering from the front row was none other than Hasan Minhaj, the Indian-American comedian, who proudly fanboyed over Zakir's milestone with the energy of a younger sibling watching his big brother win.
A historic night for the South Asian comedy community
On August 17, 2025, Zakir Khan made history by becoming the first comedian to headline a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden with an all-Hindi set. The event marked a significant milestone in South Asian entertainment, proving that Hindi-language comedy can captivate global audiences at one of the world's most prestigious venues. Hasan Minhaj, the well-known Indian-American comedian and former Patriot Act host, attended the show and publicly expressed his admiration for Zakir's achievement.
Hasan Minhaj lauds Zakir Khan's historic feat
Although Hasan did not perform at the event, he used his platform to celebrate Zakir's success. He praised the Farzi Mushaira star's storytelling and the cultural significance of the show, emphasising the importance of such representation on a global stage.
In a heartfelt Instagram post the next morning, Hasan wrote, 'A historic night for comedy around the world! Last night I got to see my brother Zakir Bhai become the first comedian in history to headline Madison Square Garden entirely in Hindi.' He joked that his own parents probably now love Zakir more than him — 'and I'm okay with that.'
Hasan Minhaj's stylish appearance
Aside from his heartfelt opening act, Hasan also attracted attention for his fashion choice at the event. He wore a full outfit from SAAF GARMENTS, including a pleated long jacket in black suede, a pleated cummerbund in black velvet, high-waisted side-adjuster pants in black, and black grain loafers. His attire was noted for its elegance and cultural influence, complementing the significance of the occasion.
Meanwhile, on the acting front, the former Patriot Act host is set to star in the upcoming Netflix original film Best of the Best. The coming-of-age comedy, directed by Lena Khan (Flora and Ulysses, Never Have I Ever), delves into the competitive world of collegiate Bollywood dance. Minhaj co-wrote the screenplay with Prashanth Venkataramanujam and is producing the film through his company, 186K Films. The cast includes Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) and Priyanka Kedia (Everything To Me).