Meherhospital at 06:12, 1 April 2026

2026-04-01T06:12:26Z

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{{Short description|Indian comedian}}
{{Infobox person
| image = UroojAshfaq-byPhilipRomano.jpg
| caption = Ashfaq in 2025
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|08|24|df=y}}
| education = [[Jai Hind College]]
| occupation = Comedian
| awards = Best Newcomer, [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]] 2023
}}

'''Urooj Ashfaq''' (born 24 August 1995)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urooj Ashfaq {{!}} Actress, Additional Crew, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8821619/ |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DNzh70I5OsS/?hl=en |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> is an Indian comedian, writer and actor from [[Mumbai]]. She won the Best Newcomer Award at the [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]] in 2023.

== Early life and education ==
Ashfaq was born on 24 August 1995 in [[Dubai]], moving to [[Mumbai]] at the age of 12.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-23 |title=Family Jewels: Ep. 10. UROOJ ASHFAQ |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-10-urooj-ashfaq/id1721155997?i=1000646539530 |access-date=2024-05-01}}</ref> She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-07 |title=mid-day lunchbox: Talking about the generation |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/mumbai-food/article/midday-lunchbox-shayan-roy-and-urooj-ashfaq-talking-about-the-generation-19956194 |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Mid-day |language=en}}</ref> She went to [[Jai Hind College]], Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghosts and Periods - Stand Up Comedy by Urooj Ashfaq |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aoVJoUB80 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

== Career ==
Ashfaq started performing in stand up comedy in 2016, the age of 21.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Anya |date=2023-08-29 |title=‘I need to have a big party and show off!’ Edinburgh comedy award-winners reveal what’s next |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/aug/29/edinburgh-comedy-award-winners-south-asian-urooj-ashfaq-ahir-shah |access-date=2023-08-30 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In interviews she has stated that her inspirations include [[Sarah Silverman]], [[Bridget Christie]], [[Josie Long]], [[Mindy Kaling]], [[Bill Burr]], [[James Acaster]], [[Stewart Lee]], [[Norm Macdonald]], and [[Aparna Nancherla]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-19 |title=Urooj Ashfaq: Watching really good comedy makes me want to do it - EasternEye |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/urooj-ashfaq-watching-really-good-comedy-makes-me-want-to-do-it/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Ashfaq worked as an intern at the now-defunct agency [[All India Bakchod]], and as a writer on the shows ''Son of Abish'' and ''Better Life Foundation.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Nitika |date=2025-03-05 |title=Urooj Ashfaq: Lot of jokes strike me on stage |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2025/Mar/05/urooj-ashfaq-lot-of-jokes-strike-me-on-stage |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Soji |first=Alwin Benjamin |date=2023-09-29 |title=EXCL: Comedian Urooj Ashfaq on winning the Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/comedy/2023/Sep/28/we-catch-up-with-comedian-urooj-ashfaq-after-her-win-of-best-newcomer-at-the-edinburgh-comedy-awards-53635.html |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, she participated and finished as a finalist on the television channel [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]]'s show ''Queens of Comedy.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-30 |title=Queens of Comedy review: TLC's new show is a milestone in comedy of, by and for women |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/queens-of-comedy-review-tlcs-new-show-is-a-milestone-in-comedy-of-by-and-for-women-4097041.html |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Vaibhavi |date=2020-03-30 |title=New age stand-up comics of India |url=https://mediaindia.eu/culture/new-age-stand-up-comics-of-india/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Media India Group |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, she was part of a group of comedians brought to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by London's [[Soho Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Urooj Ashfaq: Oh No! : Reviews 2023 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2023/08/04/53724/urooj_ashfaq |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Soho Theatre India |url=https://sohotheatre.com/about-us/soho-theatre-india/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Soho Theatre |language=en-GB}}</ref> Whilst there, Ashfaq won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show ''Oh No!,''<ref name=":1" /> the first person of South Asian heritage to win, since [[Arj Barker]] in 1997,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Premier |title=1997 Winner - Arj Barker - Best Newcomer |url=https://www.comedyawards.co.uk/best-newcomer/1997/arj-barker |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Edinburgh Comedy Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the first India-based artist to ever win the award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Rebekah |date=2023-08-29 |title=Urooj Ashfaq wins Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Comedy Awards |url=https://sohotheatre.com/news/urooj-ashfaq-wins-best-newcomer-at-edinburgh-comedy-awards/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Soho Theatre |language=en-GB}}</ref> The show was Ashfaq's first experience of performing in the UK, with a run at Soho Theatre in London earlier in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferguson |first=Brian |date=26 August 2023 |title=British-Asian stand-up Ahir Shah wins main Edinburgh Comedy Awards prize at the Fringe - Indian comic Urooj Ashfaq wins best newcomer honour |work=[[The Scotsman]] |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/british-asian-stand-up-ahir-shah-wins-main-edinburgh-comedy-awards-prize-at-the-fringe-4269990 |access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Women |first=Funny |date=2023-08-26 |title=Edinburgh Award Winners 2023: Urooj Ashfaq and Ahir Shah |url=https://funnywomen.com/2023/08/26/edinburgh-award-2023/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Funny Women |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* Best Newcomer, [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]] 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Premier |title=Best Newcomers 1992 - 2023 |url=https://www.comedyawards.co.uk/best-newcomer |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Edinburgh Comedy Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8821619/bio/?ref_=nm_ql_1 Urooj Asfaq biography at IMDB]

{{Edinburgh Comedy Award winners|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashfaq, Urooj}}
[[Category:Indian women comedians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jai Hind College alumni]]
[[Category:Comedians from Mumbai]]

Urooj Ashfaq - Revision history

Meherhospital at 06:12, 1 April 2026