NewKerala.com

Zakir Khan Reveals the Truth: His Viral Friend 'Kuntal' Doesn't Exist

Comedian Zakir Khan just dropped a surprising revelation about one of his most famous bits. He shared that the friend "Kuntal," central to his stand-up special 'Mannpasand,' isn't actually real. The special itself is a more vulnerable show about identity and personal choices. During the podcast, Zakir also gushed about his love for New York City's endless energy and food scene.

Key Points: Zakir Khan Says Friend Kuntal From Mannpasand Special Is Fake

  • Zakir Khan revealed the truth on Sania Mirza's podcast 'Serving It Up With Sania'
  • The real person asked Zakir not to use his actual name for the special
  • The 'Mannpasand' special explores personal choices and family expectations
  • Zakir also shared his deep love for New York City's culture and food
2 min read

Zakir Khan reveals his viral friend 'Kuntal' doesn't exist

Comedian Zakir Khan reveals the friend from his viral 'Mannpasand' stand-up special is not real, sharing the story on Sania Mirza's podcast.

"While the person behind that name exists, he has a different name - Zakir Khan"

Mumbai, Dec 11

Comic artiste and actor Zakir Khan has shared that his friend ‘Kuntal’, who he based his stand-up special ‘Mannpasand’ on, doesn’t exist.

Zakir recently appeared on Tennis player Sania Mirza’s podcast, ‘Serving It Up With Sania’, and shared that he has no friend, who is called Kuntal. Zakir shared that while the person behind that name exists, he has a different name, and had requested Zakir to not use his real name for his stand-up special.

‘Manpasand’ is a warm, introspective set that blends his trademark humour with a more emotionally grounded narrative. The special revolves around the idea of personal choices, how the preferences shape relationships, identity, and adulthood. Zakir uses observational storytelling, Hindi-Urdu turns of phrase, and gentle self-deprecation to unpack family expectations, romantic misfires, and the small victories that make life feel bearable. Unlike his earlier, more boisterous specials, Manpasand leans into vulnerability, offering a mellow, relatable snapshot of a man reconciling who he is with who the world wants him to be.

During the episode, Zakir also spoke about his favourite destination, as he said, “There's no place like New York. New York is everything. There are dazzling lights everywhere. That is the city that, the city which never sleeps. Even if you go out at 4:00 am, you'll find some people standing and clicking photos at Times Square. As an artist, the city is so attractive because you've seen a lot culturally”.

“Every film and show that you've consumed in Hollywood, they talk about New York so much that when you reach New York, you feel like you've already seen it. Secondly, the food, h, my God! If you place your finger on the globe, searching for a restaurant, you'll find it on that Manhattan strip of New York. I would say you don't even have to go to Queens or Jersey”, he added.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
A bit disappointed to be honest. The whole charm was thinking these were real, hilarious stories about a real friend. Now it feels a bit manufactured. Still a fan of Zakir bhai, but this revelation takes away some of the magic for me.
A
Aman W
His friend must be from a conservative family if he didn't want his real name used for comedy! 😅 Totally get it. Indian uncles and aunties would never let him hear the end of it. Smart move by Zakir to respect his wish and still tell the story.
S
Sarah B
As a writer, I appreciate this. The core emotion and experience is true, that's what matters. The name is just a device. His description of New York is spot on too – it really does feel familiar because of all the movies!
V
Vikram M
"Kuntal" exists in every friend circle. We just call him by different names! 🤣 Zakir's genius is in observation. And his take on New York vs. our own cities... so true. We have the same life here, just without the "dazzling lights" he talks about.
K
Karthik V
Respect for the real friend who wanted privacy. In India, once you become a character in a viral stand-up bit, your marriage prospects are done! 😄 On another note, Mannpasand helped me explain my own life choices to my parents. So, real or not, thank you Zakir.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50