Urooj Ashfaq | |
|---|---|
 Ashfaq in 2025 | |
| Born | 24 August 1995 |
| Education | Jai Hind College |
| Occupation | Comedian |
| Awards | Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023 |
Urooj Ashfaq (born 24 August 1995)[1][2] 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[edit | edit source]
Ashfaq was born on 24 August 1995 in Dubai, moving to Mumbai at the age of 12.[3] She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.[4] She went to Jai Hind College, Mumbai.[5]
Career[edit | edit source]
Ashfaq started performing in stand up comedy in 2016, the age of 21.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9]
In 2017, she participated and finished as a finalist on the television channel TLC's show Queens of Comedy.[10][11]
In 2023, she was part of a group of comedians brought to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by London's Soho Theatre.[12][13] Whilst there, Ashfaq won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show Oh No!,[6] the first person of South Asian heritage to win, since Arj Barker in 1997,[14] and the first India-based artist to ever win the award.[15] The show was Ashfaq's first experience of performing in the UK, with a run at Soho Theatre in London earlier in 2023.[16][17]
Awards[edit | edit source]
- Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023[18]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Urooj Ashfaq | Actress, Additional Crew, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ "Family Jewels: Ep. 10. UROOJ ASHFAQ". 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ↑ "mid-day lunchbox: Talking about the generation". Mid-day. 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- ↑ "Ghosts and Periods - Stand Up Comedy by Urooj Ashfaq". YouTube.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ryan, Anya (2023-08-29). "'I need to have a big party and show off!' Edinburgh comedy award-winners reveal what's next". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ "Urooj Ashfaq: Watching really good comedy makes me want to do it - EasternEye". 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Krishna, Nitika (2025-03-05). "Urooj Ashfaq: Lot of jokes strike me on stage". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ↑ Soji, Alwin Benjamin (2023-09-29). "EXCL: Comedian Urooj Ashfaq on winning the Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards". Indulgexpress. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ↑ "Queens of Comedy review: TLC's new show is a milestone in comedy of, by and for women". Firstpost. 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Mishra, Vaibhavi (2020-03-30). "New age stand-up comics of India". Media India Group. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Bennett, Steve. "Urooj Ashfaq: Oh No! : Reviews 2023 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ "Soho Theatre India". Soho Theatre. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Premier. "1997 Winner - Arj Barker - Best Newcomer". Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Wilson, Rebekah (2023-08-29). "Urooj Ashfaq wins Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Comedy Awards". Soho Theatre. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Ferguson, Brian (26 August 2023). "British-Asian stand-up Ahir Shah wins main Edinburgh Comedy Awards prize at the Fringe - Indian comic Urooj Ashfaq wins best newcomer honour". The Scotsman. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ↑ Women, Funny (2023-08-26). "Edinburgh Award Winners 2023: Urooj Ashfaq and Ahir Shah". Funny Women. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ↑ Premier. "Best Newcomers 1992 - 2023". Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-30.