Zarna Garg, an India-born former lawyer turned stand-up comedian, has captured the attention of millions with her unique comedic perspective. After spending 16 years as a stay-at-home mom, Garg’s daughter inspired her to pursue a career in comedy. Now, with over 12 million followers, Garg sat down with Sunday Times to discuss her journey, her thoughts on ABCD comedians, and her meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
Before delving into the world of comedy, Garg explored various job opportunities. She tried her hand at a travel toothbrush business, a vegan chili business, and even worked briefly as a matchmaker. However, her experience as a matchmaker ended after one particularly disastrous attempt. Garg shares that on her last day in the business, she humorously told one client, If you were a catch, you would have been caught.
Transitioning into comedy required some research and learning for Garg. After her first gig, she admittedly googled What is a joke to better understand the fundamentals. Google responded with its typical factual manner, explaining that a joke consists of a set-up, a premise, and a punchline. Garg, being a diligent student, took this information to heart and went to work honing her craft.
Garg doesn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries of comedy. She is known for her fearlessness and her willingness to tackle controversial topics. When asked if there are any limits to her comedy, Garg confidently responds with a resounding no. She believes that if she’s not ruffling feathers, she might as well be a pre-school teacher. Garg understands that free speech comes with its consequences, but that won’t deter her from speaking her mind.
Comedian Kevin Hart affectionately calls Garg Indian mama, a title she embraces. Garg explains that this nickname stems from Hart’s unfamiliarity with Indian moms who share their comedic perspectives on stage. She takes pride in entering the world of famous comedians with her own stories, culture, and point of view.
Garg also shares her thoughts on ABCDs (American-Born Confused Desis) and ABCD comedians. She feels that it was time for her generation to speak up and address the complaints and whining of ABCDs. Garg humorously suggests that sometimes they can’t handle the truth and need therapy over the slightest inconvenience. She believes that their expectations of their parents are often unrealistic and fail to acknowledge the complexities of life.
Reflecting on her childhood in Mumbai, Garg reveals that her upbringing was typical until tragedy struck. After her mother passed away, her father insisted on arranging a marriage for her at the age of 14. When she refused, she was kicked out of her home. Garg humorously calls herself the world’s first riches-to-rags story. Despite the hardships, she fondly remembers the love and warmth she received from friends and their families who took her in during her most vulnerable moments.
Moving to the US at the age of 16, Garg experienced culture shock in the classroom. She was astonished by the lack of respect students exhibited towards teachers. In India, it was customary to stand up when the teacher entered the room, but in the US, students ate, drank, and even put their feet up in class. It was a world of possibilities for Garg, as she humorously imagined herself writing with a red pen or wearing a sweatshirt.
Garg’s journey led her to study law, and she reveals that her legal notices often had a humorous twist. Whether it was reminding the other side that their client’s actions could have been avoided if they had listened to their mother, or infusing some comedy into her work, Garg found a way to inject humor into even the most serious situations.
Throughout her career, Garg has had the opportunity to meet famous individuals, including Prime Minister Modi. She found the experience of meeting the Prime Minister to be quite cool, and was pleasantly surprised when he spoke to her in Gujarati. However, Garg admits that meeting famous people doesn’t thrill her as much as seeing a room full of strangers who have paid to watch her show.
Garg’s comedic material often draws inspiration from her own family, including her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law jokingly claims credit for writing all of Garg’s material, as without her, Garg insists she would have nothing to say. Garg comically suggests that she would be on stage saying things like, I’m fine, I too have self-esteem.
Finally, when asked if there is such a thing as a mom joke, Garg asserts that being a mom is the ultimate joke itself. She confidently embraces her role as a comedian and the platform it gives her to share her comedic perspective as a mother.
Zarna Garg’s journey from a stay-at-home mom to a successful stand-up comedian has been nothing short of remarkable. With her unique perspective and fearlessness in addressing controversial topics, she has carved out a space for herself in the world of comedy. As she continues to make people laugh, Garg remains true to her roots and represents South Asian moms on stage in a way that resonates with audiences.
