External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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| Zarna Garg | |
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| Born | February 15, 1975 India |
| Nationality |
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| Education | University of Akron Case Western Reserve University |
| Years active | 2018-present |
| Spouse | Shalabh Garg |
| Children | 3 |
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.
Born in India, Zarna lived in Mumbai as a teenager. Her mother died of jaundice when Zarna was 14. [3] 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. [4] Eventually, she emigrated to the United States to live with her sister in Akron, Ohio. [2] [5]
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. [6] After being a stay-at-home mother for 16 years, she was encouraged by her children to try stand-up comedy. [7]
Garg first performed at an open mic in a basement under a Mexican restaurant in New York City in 2018, [5] [8] and her first official stand-up show was in February 2019 at Carolines on Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York. [3] 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. [9]
In 2021, Garg won Kevin Hart's comedy competition on Peacock, Lyft Comics. [10] In the same year, she won the Ladies of Laughter Award in the Newcomer Winner category. [11] 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. [12] [13] She appeared on Tamron Hall , [14] Today , [15] and This American Life [16] 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." [17]
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. [13] "Quick set-ups, rapid-fire punchlines... Zarna has the kind of presence that powers network sitcoms," said Jason Zinoman of The New York Times. [18] Her follow up special, Practical People Win, was released on Hulu on July 18, 2025. [19] [20] Garg's memoir This American Woman was released on April 29, 2025 and is a New York Times bestseller. [21] She starred in A Nice Indian Boy as the mother of the Gavaskar family. The film premiered at the SXSW film festival [22] and is a New York Times Critic's Pick. [23]
She is opening for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's tour and will perform her next stand-up hour, Practical People Win, on tour in the U.S. and internationally. She is also performing on the road with her podcast The Zarna Garg Show.[ citation needed ]
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. [24]
| 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 |
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