Zakir Khan loves to make new connections and ends up meeting around 40 people a month. That’s what also helps him get a peek into people’s lives and keep his content relatable. The Telegraph Online caught up with Zakir Khan on his new show Farzi Mushaira Season 2 on Amazon MiniTV, how he manages to strike a chord with his audience and his passion for Indian classical music.

What’s the concept of Farzi Mushaira?

Zakir: Farzi Mushaira is jokes meet poetry. People will see me having fun, with my friends, and listen to the cute couplets that we have written for each other. We did it with utmost glory.

Among the guests, who was the most fun to be with? Did anyone take you by surprise?

Zakir: I had the most fun with Gopal Datt and Tanmay Bhat. They are evolved artistes and their sense of comedy is great. Among the ones who took me by surprise were Richa Chadha, who wrote her poems, and Venus Singh (actress). It was surprising, as they were not part of the writing room. They came on the sets and took the cues well. Even Vijay Varma stayed back to write for other episodes. The ones I loved working with thoroughly were Dolly Singh (content creator-influencer) and the very talented actress-singer Sara Gurpal. Kritika Kamra was also good, and people will see her in a new light.

How do you manage to do so many creative things?

Zakir: Genuinely, I am struggling. (Smiles) I try! That’s the truest answer. I come from a very middle class family, so I don’t say no to work. I am very grateful to whoever offers me work. I say yes, but then I feel I don’t have the space and bandwidth for it. I don’t understand holidays. I am trying to make the most of my time. I do it as much as I can.

You are one of the most-loved comedians in India. How do you understand the pulse of the audience? What is the secret sauce of your content?

Zakir: The secret sauce is, I interact with a lot of people. I meet 30 to 40 people a month. I am very chatty and I talk to a lot of people. Somebody may give me some random information, but my database is so big that the random piece of information changes the colour of the information that I already had.

I read books but I am not an ardent reader. I watch content but meeting new people and chatting with them have given me the context in life. When I meet people, I know what to say, how to talk and how to connect, so that’s the biggest benefit of my background and where I come from. When I see a boy delivering food on a delivery app, I know what he thinks. Similarly, I know what the guy who sits in the Mercedes thinks. That’s the blessing I have, that I know both ends of the spectrum.

You have started touring for your shows again and recently finished a multi-city tour in North America. What’s the change you are seeing in audience behaviour?

Zakir: I think, they are open and they want to go out. That’s a magical thing. The people who have moved outside India, in the last four to five years, are very confident and aware. They are not shy people who sit in a corner. They buy tickets and want to enjoy themselves. It makes me so happy and proud as an Indian.

Among the achievers in the creative field in India, who inspires you?

Zakir: Anybody who has reached some mark in their lives and their profession is a very hardworking person. I have interacted with them, and I have learnt that you can learn from anybody. I am in awe of Shah Rukh Khan. I like the way he talks, the kind of person he is, the interviews he gives, the way he handles himself, and the grace with which he carries himself.

Pankaj Tripathi is another actor I admire. Javed Akhtar saab and Gulzar saab are people I have been following since I was a kid. Then, there is Tanmay Bhat. I call him the god of the internet! He defines what the internet will do. He has been doing it for so many years and he has been resurrected many times. He rises and does better. I want to have that grit.

You are a trained classical musician. When are we going to see you perform?

Zakir: Music is very close to my heart. It keeps me grounded. I learnt music for a good 19 years. I started learning at four, started performing at nine, and started earning through music from the age of 12. I am an ardent follower and a student of Indian classical music. I haven’t done it on that level because I feel very embarrassed to do it in front of people. Anybody can put up an Instagram Reel for a minute or two, but I want three hours on stage and for that, I need to be in the riwaaz room for 12 hours. So right now, I am not creating music. My brother is a musician; I help him create music and guide him.

Are you still the sakht launda jiske liye badal important hai?

Zakir: (Smiles) The Instagram Stories that I have put up during my North America tour had all window seats, so badal is still very important. Yeah, I am still the same person!

As an actor, what’s next after Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare?

Zakir: I am working on three different fiction shows, so 2023 will be a year of fiction for me.