Indian comedians are the real global juggernauts this summer, clocking miles and slinging punchlines across continents. From dark existential rants to crowd-pleasing observational humour, these comics are leaving packed rooms and standing ovations in their wake. Here’s a ready reckoner for who’s out and about this summer, where you might catch them live, and why you should be buying tickets like yesterday.
Urooj Ashfaq – How to Be a Baddie (Edinburgh Fringe, August)
Urooj Ashfaq, fresh off winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer, returns with How to Be a Baddie, a hilariously introspective set about personality overhauls and embracing your inner edgelord. It’s comedy for anyone who’s ever Googled “how to stop being a people pleaser” at 3 am.
Find her at Edinburgh Fringe from 30 July–25 August. Tickets here.
Biswa Kalyan Rath – Live (London, August)
Biswa Kalyan Rath is back onstage with his meticulously overanalysed observations that make you question whether you’ve ever truly looked at a ceiling fan. Live is classic Biswa: scathing, nerdy, and delivered with the intensity of a man convinced he’s cracked the code of the universe.
Catch him in London on 30–31 August.
Tickets here.
Shamik Chakrabarti – Despite Appearances (Edinburgh Fringe, August)
Another comedian heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this year is Shamik Chakrabarti. He wowed us with his deadpan delivery and acute observations on Amazon Prime Video’s Comicstaan and has now become part of regular programming in India’s standup comedy scene. On any given night you can catch Chakrabarti ranting about auto drivers, telecom companies and annoying ringtones. His latest hour called Despite Appearances sees him in top form, delivering jokes at a ratatat rhythm before launching into an anecdotal bit.
Catch him between 30 July – 24 August at the prestigious comedy festival. Tickets here.
Prashasti Singh – Divine Feminine (Edinburgh Fringe, August)
Prashasti Singh was the breath of fresh air that the Indian comedy scene needed back in 2017. She took the scene by storm with her unfiltered takes, her bold and authentic personality and a zeal to perform. And now this storm is all set to take over the Edinburgh Fringe with her latest hour Divine Feminine. Catch her between 30 July to 24 Aug.
Tickets here.
Gaurav Kapoor – Live (North America, August)
Gaurav Kapoor has waxed eloquent about relationships, family dynamics, the differences between the rich and poor and tons of other societal topics for years. It’s definitely struck a chord with the fans because Kapoor’s star has been on the rise for the last few years. Whether it’s his VLOGs, his crowd work videos or rehearsed bits, the audience laps it all up. He’s bringing his comedy over to USA and Canada this August for a mini tour. Don’t miss this chance!
Tickets here.
Jamie Lever – The Jamie Lever Show (USA, August)
Comedy royalty Jamie Lever has been regaling Indian audiences with her on-point mimicry (like father, like daughter) and hilarious anecdotes for the better part of a year with her eponymous show. Now, she takes it overseas with a tour in USA and Canada. If you live in the New World or are going to be there in August, catch Lever in action!
Tickets here.
Manoj Prabhakar – Extra Ordinary (Edinburgh Fringe, August)
One more comedian making a trip to comedy’s Mecca aka the Edinburgh Fringe is Manoj Prabhakar. After making his mark in Indian comedy with his relatable takes on certain sensitive topics including wokeness, the language divide and the post-colonial hangover, he’s ready to make his debut at the prestigious festival.
Catch Extra Ordinary at the Edinburgh Fringe between 1 and 23 August. Tickets here.
Rohan Joshi – Getting There (But Not Quite) (London in August & Melbourne in December)
Rohan Joshi, one of the sharpest minds from the AIB comedy collective, is hitting the stage after a whole age with Getting There (But Not Quite). Expect hilariously honest riffs on modern life, existential crises, and why adulthood feels like you’re stuck loading the same level over and over again. Perfect for anyone who feels they’re perpetually one “Productivity Hack” away from figuring life out.
Catch him in London at Soho Theatre from 2–9 August 2025, and in Melbourne on 6 December 2025 at The Comic’s Lounge, North Melbourne.
London Tickets here.
Melbourne Event Info here.
Harsh Gujral – Jo Bolta Hai Wahi Hota Hai (North America, August – September)
Harsh Gujral’s comedy is like a jam session. He might be in the middle of an elaborate bit but something an audience member might do or a sound somewhere might set him off on a hilarious tangent. You never know what’s in store and you never know how long the man’s going to have you in splits for. It’s a freewheeling rollercoaster, one that everyone should be a part of at least once.
Catch Gujral’s latest hour Jo Bolta Hai Wahi Hota Hai in North America this August and September. Tickets here.
Zakir Khan – Papa Yaar (Europe & North America, August – October)
Zakir Khan’s comedy unpacks all the intricacies of familial dynamics in the most hilarious yet beautiful ways possible. We saw him do that excellently on his special Tathastu. He’s back with a heartfelt hour in the form of Papa Yaar. This one’s best enjoyed in the presence of your old man.
That’s not it from Khan. After traversing Europe, he’s hopping over to the other side of the pond for a few shows in North America. One of those shows is at Madison Square Garden, casually making him the first Hindi-language comedian to headline the iconic venue’s main arena.
Tickets here.
Rahul Dua – Allow Me (Europe & UK, September)
Rahul Dua’s Allow Me is perfect for those who love comedic rants about middle-class life, food obsessions, and awkward conversations with parents about marriage. Dua is your charming next-door guy—if your next-door guy was a national stand-up sensation with killer comedic timing.
He’s hitting Glasgow on 3 September, Leicester on 4 September, Birmingham on 5 September, London on 6 September, Dublin on 7 September, Stockholm on 10 September, Munich on 12 September, Berlin on 13 September, Köln on 14 September, Paris on 17 September, Eindhoven on 19 September, Amsterdam on 20 September, Zurich on 21 September.
Tickets here.
Rahul Subramanian – Stand-Up Comedy Show (Bangkok, September)
Rahul Subramanian, the king of corporate jokes and self-deprecating chaos, is going global. His stand-up show is for anyone who’s been trapped in Excel hell or can’t decide if Zomato or Swiggy deserves your loyalty. His vibe is casual, yet clinically precise, landing every punchline with surgical comedic timing. Oh and he’s been honing his crowd work skills so hard, you’d best brace yourself if you’ve got front row seats.
Where: Bangkok, 14 September
Tickets here.
Varun Grover – Love, Death & Ketchup (USA & Canada, September – October)
Varun Grover has never been one to shy away from big themes, and in Love, Death & Ketchup, he takes on everything from mortality to condiment metaphors. Any hour of his feels like the perfect show for anyone who’s pondered the futility of existence while doom-scrolling social media, and is now wondering if ketchup might somehow be the answer. Expect a delicious blend of satire, poetic turns, and personal storytelling, all delivered with Grover’s signature understated humour.
See him in Los Angeles (La Palma) on 5 September, Seattle (Renton, WA) on 6 September, Dallas (Irving, TX) on 7 September, Calgary, AB on 12 September, Vancouver, BC on 13 September, Bay Area (Hayward, CA) on 14 September, New York (Rockville Centre) on 19 September, Chicago (Naperville, IL) on 20 September, Washington, DC (Annandale, VA) on 21 September, Atlanta (Roswell, GA) on 26 September, Toronto on 27 September, New Jersey (East Brunswick) on 28 September, Raleigh, NC on 3 October, Boston (Arlington, MA) on 5 October.
Tickets here.
Vipul Goyal – Unleashed (North America, September – October)
Vipul Goyal is something of a cult figure in Indian standup comedy. The man has given us some of the most quotable punchlines and continues to do so as everyday life grinds his gears one day at a time. Whether it’s the way his favourite cricket team is performing, his parents’ ineptitude with social media, or the dug up roads in his neighbourhood, Goyal is going to voice his hilarious opinion loud and proud. And he’s bringing this energy to North America in September and October.
Get your tickets here.
Varun Thakur – Space Cadet (North America, November)
Varun Thakur started a new chapter in his life a couple of years ago. His new hour, titled Space Cadet, is a riff on these new experiences. From navigating his married life without a step-by-step guide to debating parenting styles, Thakur has put a magnifying glass on his domestic life to deliver this fresh hour. Check it out in North America this November.
Tickets here.
So there you have it. The Indian comedy scene isn’t just growing—it’s on a worldwide tear, planting punchlines from Salt Lake City to Singapore. Whether you’re craving existential musings, baddie transformations, or darkly funny ketchup metaphors, there’s a comic out there ready to serve it up. Go snag those tickets and remember, laughter sounds the same in every language.
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