Zarna Garg

Zarna Garg
Born (1975-02-15) February 15, 1975
India
EducationUniversity of Akron (BA)
Case Western Reserve University (JD)
SpouseShalabh Garg
Children3

Zarna Garg (born February 15, 1975)[1] is an Indian American stand-up comedian and screenwriter. CNBC said she is "the zany, outspoken voice of the Indian American woman."[2] She is also a New York Times bestselling author.[3]

Early life and education

Born in India, Zarna lived in Mumbai as a teenager. Her mother died of hepatitis when Zarna was 14.[4] Her father demanded that she get married the day after her mother died. Rather than have an arranged marriage, she moved out of the house and stayed with friends and family.[5] Eventually, she emigrated to the United States to live with her sister in Akron, Ohio.[2][6]

She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Akron, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.[7] After being a stay-at-home mother for 16 years, she was encouraged by her children to try stand-up comedy.[8]

Career

Garg first performed at an open mic in a basement under a Mexican restaurant in New York City in 2018,[6][9] and her first official stand-up show was in February 2019 at Carolines on Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York.[4] Her debut romantic comedy screenplay Rearranged won the Best Comedy Screenplay Award at the 2019 Austin Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and was also a 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist.[10]

In 2021, Garg won Kevin Hart's comedy competition on Peacock, Lyft Comics.[11] In the same year, she won the Ladies of Laughter Award in the Newcomer Winner category.[12] In 2022 she was highlighted as "one of the gutsiest women comedians in America" in Gutsy on Apple TV, hosted by Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.[13][14] She appeared on Tamron Hall,[15] Today,[16] and This American Life[17] to discuss how her daughter Zoya inspired her to start her stand up comedy career. Zarna Garg made a second appearance on This American Life with her husband, Shalabh. She was named one of "Variety's 10 Comics to Watch for 2023."[18]

Her first comedy special, Zarna Garg: One in a Billion, was released on Prime Video on May 16, 2023. It was filmed in September 2022 at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan.[14] "Quick set-ups, rapid-fire punchlines... Zarna has the kind of presence that powers network sitcoms," said Jason Zinoman of The New York Times.[19] In June 2023, Garg joined Kamala Harris and others to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington.[20] In August 2023, Garg launched The Zarna Garg Family Podcast, exploring a variety of both everyday and traditionally "off limits" topics with her husband and kids.[21] The podcast currently receives around 40,000 YouTube views per episode.[22]

From 2023 to 2025 Garg opened for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Restless Leg Tour.[23] In January 2024, Garg made her Tonight Show debut, followed by her Late Night debut in May.[24][25] In October 2024, the Garg family celebrated Diwali with President Biden in the White House, which Zarna Garg described as "such an honor."[26]

Garg's follow up special, Practical People Win, debuted at #2 on Hulu on July 18, 2025.[27][28] Garg's memoir This American Woman was released on April 29, 2025 and is a New York Times bestseller.[29] Garg starred in A Nice Indian Boy as the mother of the Gavaskar family. The film premiered at the SXSW film festival[30] to positive reviews and is a New York Times Critic's Pick.[31] In August 2025 Garg was awarded one of the inaugural Instagram Ring Awards for Creativity.[32] Her upcoming sitcom Zarna is in development at CBS with Kevin Hart and Mindy Kaling.[33] Garg participated in the 2025 Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival,[34] an event which Human Rights Watch characterized as an attempt by the Saudi government to whitewash its human rights abuses.[35][36] She is one of three women to agree to participate in the festival.[37] Garg has stated that her comedy specials are most watched in the Middle East out of all regions, and that she feels an obligation to represent and perform for "brown women" there.[38]

Garg is currently performing her next stand-up hour, Million Dollar Excuses, on tour in the U.S. and internationally.[39]

Personal life

In 1998, Zarna and Shalabh Garg were married in the U.S. They met on an online platform. They have three children and live in New York City.[40]

Politics

Garg has praised Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. vice president JD Vance, describing her speech at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 as "brilliant" and calling her "Vance's Michelle Obama".[41] She has also spoken out against the immigration policies of the Biden administration.[42][43][44][45]

Garg cheered on Kamala Harris's candidacy after President Biden endorsed her in July 2024, saying, "Go, Indian ladies!" referring to Usha Vance and Kamala Harris.[46] Garg described Harris as "absolutely ready," "extremely eloquent," "extremely elegant," and a "brilliant woman", and that Kamala's presence in the White House has "forever changed" American life and stretched the imagination of millions of Indian American women.[47] When asked whom she likes better (Usha Vance or Kamala Harris), Zarna said she would be "very happy and very comfortable" if Kamala ends up running America, but that she was bursting with pride to see Usha Vance in the public eye as well.[48]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2021 To the Letter Asha Voice, short film
2023 Zarna Garg: One in a Billion Amazon Self Also writer
2023 The Zarna Garg Show: Family Podcast Self Producer
2024 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Self Guest
2024 A Nice Indian Boy Megha Gavaskar Actress
2025 Zarna Garg: Practical People Win Self Also writer

References

  1. ^ Kokra, Sonali (October 9, 2023). "Meet Zarna Garg: Immigrant Indian mother whose comedy has captivated the US audience for daring and an unflattering portrayal of the stereotype of Indian aunty maladjusted in America". The National.
  2. ^ a b "Zarna Garg: the zany, outspoken voice of the Indian-American woman". cnbctv18.com. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  3. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - May 18, 2025 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  4. ^ a b Dutt, Ela (6 October 2020). "She calls herself 'The Funny Brown Mom': comedian Zarna Garg". News India Times. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  5. ^ Power, T. (July 18, 2025). "Zarna Garg treats comedy as a business, not an art form". CBC. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Kelsch, Carl (12 May 2023). "Zarna Garg's New Stand-Up Special Is a Family Affair". Harpers Bazaar. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. ^ Biswas, Swarnendu (29 March 2022). "All About Zarna Garg". Seema.com. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  8. ^ McCarthy, Sean (16 May 2023). "'Zarna Garg: One In A Billion' On Prime Video, An Indian Immigrant Mom Releases Her Debut Comedy Special". Decider.com. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Laughing Through the Breakdown with Zarna Garg" (Podcast). May 7, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  10. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-02-18). "Sanjay Sharma's Marginal Mediaworks Sets South Asian Rom-Com 'Rearranged' From Zarna Garg". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  11. ^ Which Comedian Will Win This Head-to-Head Undercover Challenge? | LYFT COMICS (Eps. 1), 30 August 2021, retrieved 2021-12-19
  12. ^ "Ladies of Laughter®". Ladies of Laughter®. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  13. ^ "'Gutsy' Apple TV Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". 9 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  14. ^ a b Patten, Dominic (6 April 2023). "Zarna Garg Lands First Comedy Special, Gets May Premiere Date On Prime Video". Deadline. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  15. ^ Comedian Zarna Garg Went From Being a Stay-At-Home Mom to a Social Media Star, 16 September 2022, retrieved 2022-09-21
  16. ^ "Episode dated 7 January 2023", IMDb, retrieved 2023-01-24
  17. ^ "Comedy Duo". This American Life. 2022-09-17. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  18. ^ Derschowitz, Jenelle Riley,Paul Plunkett,Charna Flam,Nick Clement,Courtney Howard,Jessica (2023-07-19). "Zarna Garg, Leanne Morgan, Brian Simpson Among Variety's 10 Comics to Watch for 2023". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Five Stand-Up Specials for the Long Holiday Weekend
  20. ^ https://www.tiktok.com/@zarnagarg/video/7248279600579513646
  21. ^ Zarna Garg (2023-08-01). The Zarna Garg Show | Ep. 1: The Sex Talk. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Zarna Garg (2026-02-09). The Zarna Garg Family Podcast | Episode 115: Dealing With Heartbreak. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Khan, Sarah (2025-05-29). "Zarna Garg Went From Stay-at-Home Mom to Stand-Up Comedian". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  24. ^ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2024-01-12). Zarna Garg Stand-Up: Immigrating to the U.S., The Bachelor | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ Late Night with Seth Meyers (2024-05-01). Zarna Garg Debuts Her "It's Never Too Late to Take the MCAT" Poem. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ Zarna Garg (2024-10-30). The Zarna Garg Family Podcast | Ep. 48 Diwali at the White House. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ Grobar, Matt (2024-11-07). "Zarna Garg Sets Stand-Up Special With Hulu". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  28. ^ Sahay, Alisha (July 18, 2025). "Zarna Garg's Auntie Bit Is Authentic As Hell — And We Can't Get Enough Of It".
  29. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  30. ^ South by Southwest
  31. ^ Azzopardi, Chris (2025-04-03). "'A Nice Indian Boy' Review: Meet-Cute at a Hindu Temple". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  32. ^ "Introducing Instagram Rings: A New Award Celebrating Creativity". Instagram for Creators. Archived from the original on 2026-02-10. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  33. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2024-09-18). "Zarna Garg Multi-Cam Comedy From Darlene Hunt, Mindy Kaling & Kevin Hart In Works At CBS". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  34. ^ "Who's who at the Riyadh Comedy Festival". Arab News. 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  35. ^ Pandya, Hershal (2025-09-26). "'Two Weeks of Laughter in the Desert'". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  36. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Comedy Festival Whitewashes Abuses | Human Rights Watch". 2025-09-23. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  37. ^ "General Entertainment Authority | Riyadh Comedy Festival Kicks Off with a Lineup of the World's Biggest Stars". www.gea.gov.sa. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  38. ^ Garg, Zarna (2025). This American woman: a one-in-a-billion memoir (First ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 978-0-593-97502-2.
  39. ^ The View (2026-02-13). Zarna Garg Brings Her Wit And Real‑Life Stories To 'Million Dollar Excuses' Tour | The View. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  40. ^ Mauch, Ally (November 11, 2021). "Comedian Zarna Garg Jokes About 'Trashing' Her Family: 'It Comes Easily to Me'". People. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  41. ^ Penley, Taylor (2024-07-21). "Comedian Zarna Garg praises Usha Vance as husband JD's 'secret superpower': 'You can't deny' this about her". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  42. ^ https://www.foxnews.com/video/6385863883112
  43. ^ https://www.foxnews.com/media/comedian-zarna-garg-praises-usha-vance-husband-jds-secret-superpower-cant-deny-her
  44. ^ https://www.foxnews.com/media/indian-american-comedian-explains-why-trump-appeals-some-members-community.print
  45. ^ https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/the-surprising-symbol-usha-vance-has-become/vi-AA1RvG0U
  46. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
  47. ^ Mojo Story (2024-07-22). "Indian Aunties Rule, Uncles Please Sit Down" | Zarna Garg On Kamala Harris, Usha Vance | Joe Biden. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ Mojo Story (2024-07-22). "Indian Aunties Rule, Uncles Please Sit Down" | Zarna Garg On Kamala Harris, Usha Vance | Joe Biden. Retrieved 2026-02-20 – via YouTube.
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