I Don’t Know If Filipinos Have Heard of Zarna Garg But You Should

 

I don’t know if many Filipinos have heard of Zarna Garg, but she’s someone worth discovering, especially if you grew up in a household full of expectations, tradition, and comedy that wasn’t always meant to be funny.

Zarna Garg is an Indian American comedian, writer, and mom who took a wildly unexpected path to stardom. Born and raised in India, she ran away from home at just 14 to escape an arranged marriage. Years later, she rebuilt her life in the United States, becoming a lawyer and then a stay-at-home mom for over 15 years.

Then, in her 40s with zero showbiz background, she stepped onto a New York comedy stage for the first time. And people couldn’t stop laughing.

Her stories? They're about things we know all too well—strict immigrant parenting, in-laws who have opinions, kids growing up in two cultures, and the never-ending question: “Why aren’t you a doctor yet?”

In 2023, she released her first Amazon Prime special One in a Billion. Just recently, she followed it up with a Hulu special called Practical People Win. She also released a bestselling memoir called This American Woman, where she shares how she reinvented herself, one laugh at a time. If that wasn’t enough, she’s acted in a feature film (A Nice Indian Boy), tours comedy clubs across the U.S., and has over a million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

What makes Zarna stand out isn’t just that she’s funny. It’s how she’s funny. She brings immigrant family life to the stage with authenticity, warmth, and boldness. Her jokes are personal, but they resonate with people from all backgrounds, especially in places like the Philippines, where family dynamics, parental pressure, and cultural pride are just as real.

Zarna doesn’t curse, doesn’t use shock humor, and isn’t trying to be “cool.” She just tells the truth in a way that makes you laugh and say, “Wait, that’s my mom!”

In a world where comedy is often fast, loud, and edgy, Zarna’s brand of storytelling stands out because it’s honest, relatable, and full of heart.

So if you’ve ever argued with your parents about career choices, lived with a relative who overshares everything, or tried to raise kids in a culture different from your own, Zarna Garg’s comedy might just be your next favorite thing.

Check her out on YouTube, Hulu, or TikTok. You might laugh so hard you’ll text your nanay or lola about it.