Urooj Ashfaq
{{Short description|Indian comedian}}
{{Infobox person
| occupation = Comedian
| awards = Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023
}}
Urooj Ashfaq is a Mumbai-based comedian, writer and actor. She won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2023.
Early life and education
Ashfaq was born in Dubai, moving to Mumbai at the age of 12.{{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}} She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.{{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}} She went to Jai Hind College, Mumbai.{{cite web |title=Ghosts and Periods - Stand Up Comedy by Urooj Ashfaq |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aoVJoUB80 |website=YouTube}}
Career
Ashfaq started performing in stand up comedy in 2016, the age of 21.{{Cite web |last=Cristi |first=A. A. |title=Urooj Ashfaq, First India-Based Comedian In Edinburgh Comedy Awards History, Wins Best Newcomer Award |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/scotland/article/Urooj-Ashfaq-First-India-Based-Comedian-In-Edinburgh-Comedy-Awards-History-Wins-Best-Newcomer-Award-20230828 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}{{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}} In interview she has stated that her comedy heroes include "Sarah Silverman, Bridget Christie, Josie Long, Mindy Kaling, Bill Burr, James Acaster, Stewart Lee, Norm Macdonald, [and] Aparna Nancherla."{{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}}
In 2017 she was a contestant and finalist on the television channel TLC's show Queens of Comedy.{{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}}{{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}}
In 2023, she was part of a group of comedians brought to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by London's Soho Theatre.{{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}}{{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}} Whilst there, Ashfaq won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show Oh No!, the first person of South Asian heritage to win since Arj Barker in 1997,{{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}} and the first India-based artist to ever win the award.{{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}} The show was Ashfaq's first experience of performing in the UK, with a run at Soho Theatre in London earlier in 2023.{{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}}{{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}}
Awards
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