Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Jan 28: Stand-up comedian Zakir Khan has revealed that his decision to take an extended break from comedy is primarily driven by health concerns, including certain genetic illnesses in his family.
Speaking to Gulf News, Zakir admitted that years of relentless work, lack of rest, and constant travel have taken a serious toll on his body, forcing him to step back and prioritise his well-being.
“I need to take care of my health,” says Zakir
Zakir said some of the health issues he is worried about are hereditary and tend to appear after a certain age.
“I need to take care of my health. There are certain genetic illnesses in my family that tend to surface after a particular age. On top of that, I’ve damaged my body myself, sleeping for just two hours and then going on to meet thousands of people,” he said.
He added that the pressure of being the first in his family to achieve success on such a large scale pushed him to place work above everything else for nearly a decade.
“When you keep your foot on the accelerator for ten straight years, the body is bound to take a hit… last year, when we were in the US, I realised that it wouldn’t be possible to do both together,” Zakir said.
A viral clip from his show in Hyderabad recently surfaced online where Zakir was seen stating that he could stay away from stand-up comedy until around 2030. However, he later clarified that the comment was specifically made in the context of returning to Hyderabad, as it would take time to revisit the city after his break and eventual comeback.
Zakir announced the break during his ongoing Papa Yaar tour, telling fans that he may step away for three to five years, depending on how things unfold.
“It will be a break of three, four, or five years to take care of my health and to sort out a few other things… Thank you so much,” he told the audience.
Zakir also shared an update on Instagram, mentioning that his shows until June 20 would be treated as a celebration before he begins his extended hiatus.