Urooj Ashfaq
Indian comedian
Urooj Ashfaq | |
|---|---|
| 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.[1] She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.[2] She went to Jai Hind College, Mumbai.[3]
Career
Ashfaq started performing in stand up comedy in 2016, the age of 21.[4][5] 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."[6]
In 2017 she was a contestant and finalist on the television channel TLC's show Queens of Comedy.[7][8]
In 2023, she was part of a group of comedians brought to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by London's Soho Theatre.[9][10] Whilst there, Ashfaq won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show Oh No!,[5] the first person of South Asian heritage to win since Arj Barker in 1997,[11][4] and the first India-based artist to ever win the award.[12] The show was Ashfaq's first experience of performing in the UK, with a run at Soho Theatre in London earlier in 2023.[13][14]
Awards
- Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023[15]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b Cristi, A. A. "Urooj Ashfaq, First India-Based Comedian In Edinburgh Comedy Awards History, Wins Best Newcomer Award". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "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.
External links
- Urooj Asfaq biography at IMDB
- v
- t
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Best Comedy Show
- 1981: Cambridge Footlights (Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery, Emma Thompson, Penny Dwyer and Paul Shearer)
- 1982: Writer's Inc (Gary Adams, Steve Brown, Vicki Pile, Trevor McCallum, Helen Murry, Jamie Rix, and Nick Wilton, with additional material by Kim Fuller)
- 1983: Los Trios Ringbarkus
- 1984: The Brass Band
- 1985: Theatre de Complicité
- 1986: Ben Keaton
- 1987: Brown Blues... (Arnold Brown with Barb Jungr and Michael Parker)
- 1988: Jeremy Hardy
- 1989: Simon Fanshawe
- 1990: Sean Hughes – A One Night Stand
- 1991: Frank Skinner
- 1992: Steve Coogan – In Character with John Thomson
- 1993: Lee Evans
- 1994: Lano and Woodley
- 1995: Jenny Eclair – Prozac & Tantrums
- 1996: Dylan Moran – Dylan Moran Is Indisposed
- 1997: The League of Gentlemen
- 1998: Tommy Tiernan – Undivine Comedy
- 1999: Al Murray as The Pub Landlord – And a Glass of White Wine for the Lady
- 2000: Rich Hall – Otis Lee Crenshaw
- 2001: Garth Marenghi's Netherhead (Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade and Alice Lowe)
- 2002: Daniel Kitson – Something
- 2003: Demetri Martin – If I...
- 2004: Will Adamsdale – Jackson's Way
- 2005: Laura Solon – Kopfraper's Syndrome
- 2006: Phil Nichol – The Naked Racist
- 2007: Brendon Burns – So I Suppose THIS Is Offensive Now
- 2008: David O'Doherty – Let's Comedy
- 2009: Tim Key – The Slutcracker
- 2010: Russell Kane – Smokescreens and Castles
- 2011: Adam Riches – Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches
- 2012: Doctor Brown – Befrdfgth
- 2013: Bridget Christie – A Bic for Her
- 2014: John Kearns – Shtick
- 2015: Sam Simmons – Spaghetti for Breakfast
- 2016: Richard Gadd – Monkey See Monkey Do
- 2017: Hannah Gadsby – Nanette & John Robins – The Darkness of Robins
- 2018: Rose Matafeo – Horndog
- 2019: Jordan Brookes – I've Got Nothing
- 2022: Sam Campbell – Comedy Show
- 2023: Ahir Shah – Ends
Best Newcomer
1992: Harry Hill – Flies! 1993: Dominic Holland – Red Hot Dutch with Dominic 1994: Scott Capurro – Risk Gay 1995: Tim Vine – The Tim Vine Fiasco 1996: Milton Jones – The Head 1997: Arj Barker – Arj Barker's Letter to America 1998: The Mighty Boosh (Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and Rich Fulcher) 1999: Ben'n'Arn's Big Top (Ben Willbond and Arnold Widdowson) 2000: Noble and Silver 2001: Garth Cruickshank & Eddie McCabe – Let's Have a Right Royal Shambles 2002: The Consultants – Finger in the Wind 2003: Gary Le Strange – Polaroid Suitcase 2004: Wil Hodgson – The Passion of the Hodgson 2005: Tim Minchin – Dark Side 2006: Josie Long – Kindness & Exuberance 2007: Tom Basden – Won't Say Anything 2008: Sarah Millican – Sarah Millican's Not Nice 2009: Jonny Sweet – Mostly About Arthur 2010: Roisin Conaty – Hero, Warrior, Fireman, Liar 2011: Humphrey Ker – Humphrey Ker is Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher 2012: Daniel Simonsen – Champions 2013: John Kearns – Sight Gags For Perverts 2014: Alex Edelman – Millennial 2015: Sofie Hagen – Bubblewrap 2016: Scott Gibson – Life After Death 2017: Natalie Palamides – LAID 2018: Ciarán Dowd – Don Rodolfo 2019: Catherine Cohen – The Twist? She's Gorgeous 2022: Lara Ricote – GRL/LATNX/DEF 2023: Urooj Ashfaq – Oh No!
Panel Prize
2006: Mark Watson 2007: Arthur Smith – Arturart 2008: All the performers 2009: Peter Buckley Hill – Peter Buckley Hill Free Fringe 2010: Bo Burnham – Words Words Words 2011: Max & Ivan – The Wrestling 2012: The Boy With Tape On His Face – More Tape 2013: Adrienne Truscott – Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It: A One Lady Rape About Comedy 2014: Funz and Gamez 2015: Karen Koren 2016: Iraq Out & Loud – Heroes of Fringe 2018: Angela Barnes, Sameena Zehra and Pauline Eyre – Home Safe Collective 2019: Fringe of Colour 2022: Best in Class 2023: A Show for Gareth Richards
