The best stand-up comedians in India right now include Vir Das, Zakir Khan, Kanan Gill, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Kapil Sharma, Anubhav Singh Bassi, Kenny Sebastian, Abish Mathew, Amit Tandon and Vipul Goel. Most have specials on Netflix, Prime Video or YouTube, and several have moved into films, books and big arena tours.
This list was first published a few years ago. We have updated it for 2026 with each comic’s latest specials, shows and career news, so you know what to watch tonight after a long day at work.
Quick facts: India’s top stand-up comedians in 2026
| Comedian | Known for | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Vir Das | Landing (International Emmy 2023) | Netflix |
| Zakir Khan | Haq Se Single, Mannpasand, Papa Yaar | Prime Video, Netflix |
| Kanan Gill | Yours Sincerely, Is This It? | Netflix, YouTube |
| Biswa Kalyan Rath | Mood Kharaab, Laakhon Mein Ek | Prime Video |
| Kapil Sharma | The Great Indian Kapil Show | Netflix |
| Anubhav Singh Bassi | Bas Kar Bassi | Prime Video, YouTube |
India’s 10 best stand-up comedians to watch
1. Vir Das
Vir Das started in stand-up before working in Hindi films, and he has since become the most visible Indian comic on the global stage. His Netflix specials include Abroad Understanding (2017), Losing It (2018), Outside In (2020), Landing (2022) and Fool Volume (2025).
Landing won the International Emmy for Best Comedy in 2023, and Das hosted the 52nd International Emmy Awards in 2024. In January 2026 he released Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, his debut as a film director, produced by Aamir Khan Productions. He also published a memoir, The Outsider, in 2025.
2. Zakir Khan
Zakir Khan broke through in 2012 after winning Comedy Central’s India’s Best Stand Up contest. His storytelling style, built on small-town life and heartbreak, made Haq Se Single (2017) a hit. Kaksha Gyarvi, Tathastu, Mannpasand and Delulu Express followed on Prime Video, and Papa Yaar arrived on Netflix in 2026.
He also created and starred in the Prime Video series Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare. In August 2025 he became the first Indian artist to perform a show fully in Hindi at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In January 2026 he announced a long break from live comedy, with his Papa Yaar tour wrapping up by June 2026.
3. Kanan Gill
Kanan Gill first became famous for Pretentious Movie Reviews, the YouTube series he made with Biswa Kalyan Rath that roasts old Bollywood films. His specials include Keep It Real (2017) on Prime Video and Yours Sincerely (2020) on Netflix.
He later released Is This It? and What Is This? on YouTube. Gill has also acted in Noor (2017) and the Norwegian film Christmas As Usual (2023), and his debut novel, Acts of God, came out from HarperCollins in 2024.
4. Biswa Kalyan Rath
Biswa Kalyan Rath studied biotechnology at IIT Kharagpur before choosing comedy. His fast, rambling style works best in long bits about everyday absurdity. His Prime Video specials include Biswa Mast Aadmi (2017), Sushi (2019) and Mood Kharaab (2023).
He also created and wrote Laakhon Mein Ek, the Prime Video drama about pressure on students preparing for entrance exams. It remains one of the better Indian web series made by a comedian.
5. Kapil Sharma
Kapil Sharma won The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2007 and went on to rule weekend television with Comedy Nights with Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show. Since March 2024 he has hosted The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix.
On the film side, he debuted with Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015), appeared in Crew (2024) and returned with the sequel Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 in December 2025. His Kap’s Cafe in Surrey, Canada, made news in 2025 after shots were fired at it more than once. No injuries were reported.
6. Anubhav Singh Bassi
Bassi studied law at RMLNLU and drew on his many failed career plans for his material. His long story sets about hostel life and bad decisions made his YouTube channel one of the biggest in Indian comedy, with over five million subscribers.
His first special, Bas Kar Bassi, released on Prime Video in February 2023. The same year he made his film debut as Manu Dabbas in Luv Ranjan’s Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, with Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor.
7. Kenny Sebastian
Kenny Sebastian is a comic, musician and filmmaker from Bengaluru. His specials include Don’t Be That Guy on Prime Video and The Most Interesting Person in the Room (2020) on Netflix. He also starred in and made the music for Die Trying, a Prime Video film.
His long-running Chai Time with Kenny, a casual live stream with fans, started in 2017. He also runs the podcast Simple Ken, and his clean, observational style makes him a safe pick for family viewing.
8. Abish Mathew
Abish Mathew is one of the founders of India’s English comedy scene. He created Son of Abish, a comic talk show where celebrities such as Radhika Apte and Yami Gautam sat on his couch.
His special Whoop (2018) is on Prime Video. He is also known for song parodies, improv and Journey of a Joke, a show about how a joke is built.
9. Amit Tandon
Amit Tandon is an engineer who turned his hobby into a career and became known as the voice of the married Indian man. His jokes on spouses, kids and in-laws work across age groups.
He was part of Netflix’s Comedians of the World series, and his clean material makes him a regular at corporate shows. Fans who like family comedy should start with his clips on YouTube.
10. Vipul Goel
Vipul Goel is an IIT Bombay electrical engineering graduate known for clean, observational comedy. He played a version of himself in TVF’s Humorously Yours, a web series about the life of a struggling stand-up comic.
His sets about Indian middle-class habits and office life are easy to relate to. Humorously Yours is still one of the most honest looks at the comedy business in India.
Why stand-up comedy helps with daily work stress
A 20-minute special is the right length for a lunch break or a metro ride home. Comics like Zakir Khan and Amit Tandon tell stories rather than shock jokes, so you can watch them with family. For sharper satire, Vir Das and Kanan Gill are better picks. For more Indian entertainment lists, see our listicles section and celebrity news. You can find our latest show picks under web series.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best stand-up comedian in India in 2026?
Vir Das and Zakir Khan are the biggest names. Das has an International Emmy for Landing, and Khan sold out Madison Square Garden in 2025 with a Hindi show.
Which Indian comedian won an International Emmy?
Vir Das won the 2023 International Emmy for Best Comedy for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing.
Is Zakir Khan taking a break from comedy?
Yes. In January 2026 Zakir Khan announced an extended break from live shows, citing health and personal reasons. His Papa Yaar tour was set to end by June 2026.
Where can I watch Indian stand-up specials?
Netflix and Prime Video host most of the big specials. Many comics, including Kanan Gill and Anubhav Singh Bassi, also post full sets on YouTube.
Sources: Wikipedia: Vir Das, Wikipedia: Zakir Khan, Wikipedia: Kapil Sharma, Koimoi.
