Comedy is a genre of literature and it alludes to dramatic work. Comedy is a type of medicine that can heal anybody from illness. Comedy is amusing, entertaining as well as satirical in nature. The subject of the satire is to get triumph over the disagreeable conditions and it brings about a cheerful end. Be that as it may, the motivation behind satire is to engage the crowd. Therefore, Comedy is known for “fixing the broken glass“.
One aspect of entertainment that is grown exorbitantly outside of mainstream media is stand-up comedy. India has seen a rise in numbers in the quality of stand-up comedians that are performing all over the country. I strongly believe stand up comedy is one of the most powerful tools and venues to educate, heal people, incite, spread awareness and make people ponder about ideas.
There are many popular stand-up comedians in India. And that is why I am going to unbox the 25 names of the best Indian stand up comedians. The team of toplistin has done deep research on Best Indian Stand Up Comedian and made a list of 25 best Indian stand up comedians. So, without further do,
Let’s get started with the list.
25. Anuvab Pal
Anuvab Pal is an Indian stand up comedian, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist. He is occasionally featured as a rotating co-host on Season 4 of the top-rated podcast The Bugle.
Moreover, He was also interviewed in the BBC News segment titled ‘Having A Laugh In India‘ and was, along with comedian and presenter Cyrus Broacha, the only Indian comedian on the popular BBC Radio 4 show Just A Minute with Nicholas Parsons. That episode also featured famous British comedians Paul Merton and Marcus Brigstocke.
Pal had his stand up special Alive At 40, featured on the Amazon Prime platform. In 2018, his 8 episode comedy Going Viral starring Kunaal Roy Kapur was produced by Amazon Prime. He has contributed a lot to stand up comedy. So far, his youtube channel has 25.2K subscribers and 5,701,544 views.
24. Daniel Fernandes
Daniel Fernandes (born 2 August 1984) is an Indian stand-up comedian. Based in Mumbai, Fernandes is known for his dark and surreal style of comedy, with references to social issues in India.
Based in Mumbai, Fernandes regularly performs at comedy clubs including Canvas Laugh Club, The Comedy Store, Blue Frog, and High Spirits. In his comedic material and interviews, Fernandes is known to cover Indian social issues including free speech, student suicide, the death penalty etc.
He collaborated with several Indian stand-up comedians including Gursimran Khamba, Aditi Mittal, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Sundeep Rao, Radhika Vaz, Abish Mathew, and Kanan Gill. He has 212K subscribers and a total of 20,130,899 views on his YouTube channel named “Daniel Fernandes” so far.
23. Aadar Malik
Aadar Malik is an Indian actor, musician, stand-up comedian and was part of the popular comic group, Schitzengiggles Comedy also called SNG Comedy, which was formed in 2014. He is the son of Abu Malik and nephew of Anu Malik, the Indian Music-composer and director.
Aadar Malik has been a performer since the age of 7 years. He has performed hundreds of times, most recently being a tour for ‘Stand-Up: The Musical’, India’s first musical comedy special, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. His ‘goat song’ was shortlisted at the Worldwide Comedy Short Film Festival, London and became very popular on social media.
He is a member of SnG Comedy, a popular comedy collective that has amassed 107k subscribers and a total of 8,004,249 views so far on his YouTube Channel “The Aadar Guy“. Their content consists of sketches, stand-up, and a candid interview-cum-chat series ‘The Big Question’ which has featured several popular guests.
22. Aditi Mittal
Aditi Mittal is a stand-up comedian, entertainer, author, on-screen character.
Her first stand-up special “Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say” is on Netflix, her second exceptional “Young lady Meets Mic” is likewise on Netflix and she’s as of now visiting her third stand-up unique “Global Village Idiot” around the globe. Aditi appeared her fourth extraordinary, “Mother of Invention” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019.
Other work incorporates “Beginners Guide to India” with BBC Radio 4 in the UK, performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK Melbourne Comedy Festival, Australia and Montreux Comedy Festival, Switzerland.
She has a YouTube channel named “Aditi Mittal” with having 246K subscribers.
21. Vipul Goyal
Vipul Goyal is an Indian stand-up comedian and actor. He is counted among the top comedy performers in India and also plays the main protagonist in one of India’s most successful web-series Humorously Yours.
The show is produced by The Viral Fever, India’s biggest web-series production house and depicts a hilarious semi-autobiographical account of his life interspersed with stand up clips.
Vipul is the only ace Indian comedian with a dedicated show of his own. He has his YouTube channel named “Humorously Yours Team” with over 316K subscribers and a total of 29,831,652 views. You can check out his channel, by clicking the below-given button. He is often called the Indian Seinfeld as he does some hilarious observational comedy.
20. Kunal Kamra
Kunal Kamra is a comedian who is recognized for his observational comedy. You might have heard his name for his recent controversy.
In 2020, after an incident on IndiGo airlines where he confronted the Indian news anchor Arnab Goswami, he was banned by five Indian Airlines.
However, he is quite famous for his stand up comedy. On his YouTube channel which named “, Kunal Kamra” has 1.57M subscribers and a total of 102,447,747 views.
19. Kanan Gill
Kanan Gill is an Indian stand-up comedian, actor, and YouTuber. He won the “Punch Line Bangalore” Competition. He is known for the YouTube series Pretentious Movie Reviews where he reviews flawed yesteryear Bollywood films along with fellow stand-up comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath.
He was one of the main personalities behind the YouTube Comedy Hunt and also co-hosted the YouTube FanFest India. In 2017, he had his own one-hour comedy special, “Keep It Real“. He made his debut on the big screen with the movie Noor, alongside Sonakshi Sinha. In 2018, he was also the judge on Comicstaan, a comedic reality TV show.
His channel name is “Kanan Gill” with verified badge and have 745K subscribers and total of 76,582,294 views.
18. Abish Mathew
Abish Mathew is an Indian stand-up comedian and a YouTube performer. He is known for his work with All India Bakchod, as the host of Comicstaan, and is the creator and host of “Son of Abish“.
His YouTube channel name is “Abish Mathew” having 973K subscribers and total of 116,741,969 views.
17. Biswa Kalyan Rath
Biswa Kalyan Rath is an Indian stand-up comedian, writer, and YouTuber. He came into prominence through the YouTube comedy series, Pretentious Movie Reviews with fellow comedian Kanan Gill. He played a minor role in Brahman Naman, and another minor role in the show, “Laakhon Mein Ek” which he co-wrote.
Recent his big work was on Amazon. He has 616K subscribers on his YouTube channel and total of 42,868,189 views .
16. Tanmay Bhat
Tanmay Bhat is an Indian YouTuber, stand-up comedian, scriptwriter, performer, producer, and founder of the creative agency All India Bakchod (AIB) along with Gursimranjeet Singh Khamba.
He was one of the first four comedians to be featured at the Comedy Store Mumbai’s first all-Indian comedian line up, titled “Local Hero“, and soon thereafter he performed alongside comics from Nepal in a Best In Stand Up event.
His famous works include On Air with AIB on Hotstar and AIB Podcast with Shahrukh Khan. In 2018, he was also the judge on “Comicstaan“, a comedic reality TV show. He is very popular between Youngster. His YouTube channel name is “Tanmay Bhat” and has 815K subscribers and a total of 73,181,534 views.
15. Vir Das
Vir Das is an Indian comedian, actor, and comedy musician. After beginning a career in standup comedy, Das moved to Hindi cinema starring in films like “Delhi Belly“, “Badmaash Company” and “Go Goa Gone“.
In 2017, he entered the international stage with his Netflix special Abroad Understanding and then he came in the big picture.
Vir Das has performed in approximately 35 plays, over 100 stand-up comedy shows, 18 films, eight TV shows, and six comedy specials. He has written comedic columns for Femina, Maxim, Exotica, DNA, and Tehelka.
In 2019, he made his debut in American television with the television series, “Whiskey Cavalier“. His YouTube Channel name is Vir Das and has over 225K subscribers and 11,027,598 views.
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14. Navin Prabhakar
Navin Prabhakar is an Indian comedian, singer, actor and mimicry artist. He is most known for his Pehchan Kaun (Mumbai bar girl) act on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (2005).
Subsequently, he hosted a mimicry and stand-up show Hello Kaun? Pehchaan Kaun (2008–2009). He has worked in 7 Indian movies. He has seen many times in TV serials like in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Takeshi’s Castle, Boogie Woogie, Laughter Knights, Hello Kaun? Pehchaan Kaun, Crime Patrol, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 5.
13. Siddharth Sagar
Siddharth Sagar (born 15 June 1993) is an Indian stand-up comedian and television actor. He is the winner of Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe teamed with Krishna Abhishek and Sudesh Lehri. Recently, he has played the lead role in horror comedy show Pritam Pyare Aur Woh on Sab TV.
Siddharth started working on stage from the age of 8. When he was 13, he made his television debut with Comedy Circus – “Chinchpokli To China” on Sony TV.
He participated in various stand-up comedy shows, Comedy Circus, including, Chhote Miyan Bade Miyan, Laughter Ke Phatke, Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe. He also hosted the Sab Ke Anokhe Awards. He also worked in Comedy Classes on Life Ok and later appeared on “The Kapil Sharma Show.”
He gained more popularity through The Kapil Sharma Show.
12. Jamie Lever
Jamie Janumala ( professional name Jamie Lever) is an Indian stand-up comedian. She is the daughter of Indian comedian Johnny Lever. She performed on “Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali” on Sony Entertainment Television in 2013. And also have hosted various shows.
She appeared in “Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon” and “Housefull 4” film.
11. Jimmy Moses
Jimmy Moses Janumala is an Indian actor, playback singer, stand-up comedian & mimicry artist from Mumbai. He is the younger brother of India’s ace comedian Johnny Lever.
Jimmy has been doing comedy for more than two decades now, and has done about 4,000 shows in more than 30 countries.
He secured films (Joru Ka Ghulam, Ghaith, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, Krazzy 4), also has done the play Haste Haste Lag Gaye Raste and television shows (Tu Tu Main Main, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge).
Jimmy was one of the celebrity contestants of the third installment of the television reality shows Comedy Circus called “Teen Ka Tadka” in 2009. Jimmy has worked in the Colors show Nautanki The Comedy Theater and also Comedy Nights With Kapil. He also performed in the show Comedy Dangal featured on &TV.
He recently was seen as a truck driver in Chennai Express. He was also featured in the movie Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3. He did a cameo in the television comedy-drama series Mrs. Pammi Pyarelal on Colors TV channel. He acted in a supporting role as an assistant coach in the movie Soorma.
10. Sunil Pal
Sunil Pal is an Indian comedian, actor and voice actor, and the (2005) winner of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on STAR One. He has acted in various Bollywood films doing minor comic roles.
In 2010, he wrote and directed a comedy film, Bhavnao Ko Samjho, which featured a record 47 stand-up comedians. He appeared in 14 films including Kick, Bombay to Goa.
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9. Upasana Singh
Upasana Singh is an Indian actress and stand-up comedian. She is known for her role as a deaf-mute in the 1997 film Judaai.
She played the character of “Bua” (paternal aunt) in the TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil and Tarawanti in the mad comedy show Nadaniyaan on BIG Magic.
She is popular for her onscreen style and Punjabi and funny English dialogue delivery. She has done numerous Bollywood films as well as regional cinema such as Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, and Gujarati.
She has done around 86 movies and 19 TV shows.
8. Ali Asgar
Ali Asgar is an Indian actor and stand-up comedian. He has appeared in many Indian TV serials and movies. Asgar appeared as Kamal Agarwal in Star Plus TV show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. He also appeared in SAB TV’s show F.I.R. as Inspector Raj Aryan.
He is commonly known for his role in Colors TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil as Dadi and Pushpa Nani in “The Kapil Sharma Show“. He has done 41 Tv shows and 20 Movies.
7. Johnny Lever
Johnny Lever is an Indian film actor and one of the most noted comedians in the Hindi cinema. The lever is one of the first stand-up comedians in India.
He has received thirteen Filmfare Awards nominations in Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and has won the award twice, for his work in Deewana Mastana (1997) and Dulhe Raja (1998).
He began his career in 1984 and has acted in more than three hundred Bollywood films.
6. Bharti Singh
Bharti Singh is an Indian stand-up comedian, actress, and television personality from Amritsar, Punjab, India. She has done numerous comedy shows and has hosted many awards shows as well.
There are a few good females stand up Comedians in Indian Television. Bharti Singh is one of the best Standup comedians on TV. She was the 2nd Runner-up of The great Indian laughter Challenge Season 4.
She participated in the reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2012), Nach Baliye (2017) and Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (2019). As of December 2019, she appeared on Khatra Khatra Khatra, a show conceptualized by her husband Harsh Limbachiya for Colors TV.
5. Raju Srivastav
Raju Srivastava often credited as Gajodhar is an Indian comedian. He is one of the most popular stand up comedian.
He ventured into stand-up comedy with the talent show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and finished as second runner-up, subsequently taking part in the spin-off, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge – Champions, in which he won the title of “The King of Comedy“.
His YouTube Channel name is “Raju Srivastav Comedy” and has over 483K subscribers and a total of 37,834,033 views.
4. Krushna Abhishek
Abhishek Sharma (born 30 May 1983), popularly known by his screen name Krushna Abhishek, is an Indian film actor and extreme comedian. He got an appreciation for his work in films like Bol Bachchan and Entertainment (2014).
He is also a dancer and has participated in numerous dance reality shows, including, Nach Baliye (Season 3) (2007) and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 4) (2010).
As a stand-up comedian, he made a name for himself after he participated in successive Comedy Circus seasons, Comedy Circus 2 (2008) and was a wild card entry in Comedy Circus 3 (2009) with Sudesh Lehri, apart from Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo (2010) and Jubilee Comedy Circus (2011).
He is also a part of The Kapil Sharma Show Season 2 which started airing from 29 December 2018.
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3. Zakir Khan
Zakir Khan is an Indian stand-up comedian, writer, presenter, and actor. In 2012, he rose to popularity by winning Comedy Central’s India’s 3rd Best Stand Up Comedian competition. He has also been a part of a news comedy show, On Air with AIB. His popular acts are ‘Kaksha Gyarvi‘ and ‘Haq Se Single’ on Amazon Prime.
He became a known face in India’s stand-up comedy circuit in 2012 when he won the title of ‘India’s Best Stand Up’, a comedy competition organized by Comedy Central. Besides performing at many stand-up comedy shows, he has also done ghostwriting and produced radio shows.
He is known for his punchline “Sakht launda“, I am sure you might have heard somewhere. “Sakht launda” means a guy with immense self-control who would not be easily manipulated by pretty, cunning girls.
His YouTube channel name is “Zakir Khan” and has over 5.17M subscribers and a total of 369,478,613 views.
2. Sunil Grover
Sunil Grover (born 3 August 1977) is an Indian actor and stand up comedian. He came into limelight for his portrayal as Gutthi on Comedy Nights with Kapil but gained popularity for playing the role of Dr. Mashoor Gulati on The Kapil Sharma Show. Grover was also seen in Bollywood film Bharat.
He gained a lot of popularity from the comedy show Comedy Nights with Kapil and became well known for his comical characters like Gutthi, Rinku Bhabi, and Dr. Mashoor Gulati. But after having a controversial fight with his co-actor Kapil Sharma, Sunil left the show.
Soon after leaving Kapil’s show, Grover returned to television with Star Plus’s show Kanpur Wale Khuranas with Aparshakti Khurana as the host. The plot of the show was similar to that of The Kapil Sharma Show, but it didn’t last long and soon went off the air.
1. Kapil Sharma
When we talk about comedy and we do not take the name of Kapil Sharma will not be fair enough. Kapil Sharma is an Indian stand-up comedian, television presenter, actor and producer are known for hosting “The Kapil Sharma Show”.
He previously hosted the television comedy shows Comedy Nights with Kapil and Family Time with Kapil. He is a master of comedy. Millions of people watch his shows. He has done a few films like ABCD 2, Bhavnao Ko Samjho, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. He played a lead role in Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon.
He received 8 big awards. In India, he ranked 11th and 18th in top Celebrity 100 list in the year 2016 and 2017 respectively. He contributed a lot to the comedy.
His YouTube channel name is “Kapil Sharma” and has over 5.06M subscribers and a total of 790,884,803 views.
Conclusion
| 1. | Kapil Sharma |
| 2. | Sunil Grover |
| 3. | Zakir Khan |
| 4. | Krushna Abhishek |
| 5. | Raju Srivastav |
| 6. | Bharti Singh |
| 7. | Johnny Lever |
| 8. | Ali Asgar |
| 9. | Upasana Singh |
| 10. | Sunil Pal |
| 11. | Jimmy Moses |
| 12. | Jamie Lever |
| 13. | Siddharth Sagar |
| 14. | Navin Prabhakar |
| 15. | Vir Das |
| 16. | Tanmay Bhat |
| 17. | Biswa Kalyan Rath |
| 18. | Abish Mathew |
| 19. | Kanan Gill |
| 20. | Kunal Kamra |
| 21. | Vipul Goyal |
| 22. | Aditi Mittal |
| 23. | Aadar Malik |
| 24. | Daniel Fernandes |
| 25. | Anuvab Pal |
