Mumbai: Popular stand up comedian Zakir Khan has decided to step away from the comedy circuit for a while. The performer, who has a story everyone can relate to and crowds that regularly attend his live concerts, has recently confessed that his health issues and decades of continuous work have made him slow down, and reassess his priorities.
Zakir admitted that constant travel, sleepless nights and continuous performances have taken a toll on his body. He claimed that the break is needed to concentrate on recovery and to live a more healthy life after nearly ten years of living above the means.
Zakir Khan opens up about health concerns
In a recent interview with Gulf News, Zakir spoke honestly about the health issues that led to this decision. He revealed that some of his concerns are genetic and tend to appear at a certain age. Along with that, his demanding schedule made things worse.
He shared that his routine often involved sleeping for barely two hours before heading out to meet thousands of people for shows and interactions. In his opinion, as soon as he landed in a new city, he would not have a lot of time to rest as work would commence. With time, this way of life started taking its toll on him.
Responsibility, success and burnout
Zakir also spoke about the pressure that comes with being the first person in his family to achieve large scale success. According to him, it is this sense of responsibility that made him put work first before all things in an almost decade long as he aimed at providing opportunities and stability to the future generations.
However, he admitted that keeping his foot on the accelerator for such a long time eventually caught up with him. It was on a tour in the United States last year that he realised that it could no longer be possible to manage health and such intensive work. That happened to be the turning point after which he took a step back.
Clarifying the viral Hyderabad clip
Recently a clip of Zakir Khan at Hyderabad show went viral in which he stated that he would not do any stand up comedy till about 2030. This sparked concern among fans. Later, Zakir clarified that he was only referring to performing in Hyderabad and not quitting comedy entirely across all cities.
He explained that after taking a break and returning to work, it might take a while before he performs in Hyderabad again, which is why he mentioned such a long gap during the show.
Official announcement during Papa Yaar tour
Zakir Khan officially declared his choice on his live concert in Hyderabad as the part of his current Papa Yaar tour. Addressing a full house, he said that the break would take three to five years, perhaps until 2028, 2029 or even 2030, as things unfold.
He thanked the audience for their constant love and support and said their presence meant more to him than words could express. Zakir Khan also posted on Instagram that every show he does until June 20 will be a celebration, which is a significant step before he retires to concentrate on his health and personal life.
While fans will miss seeing him on stage regularly, Zakir Khan’s decision has been widely met with understanding and support, with many wishing him strength and a healthy comeback whenever he feels ready.
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