Saaniya Abbas grew up in New Delhi, attended an all-girls Catholic school in the Himalayas, and only discovered herself once she found herself divorced in Dubai and starting a new life as a stand-up comedian. She amassed a half-million followers on Instagram hosting live videos in the pandemic, and as a comedian has toured the UK and India, and took her first one-woman-show, Hellarious, to the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. Abbas and her furry cat ears have come to America in November 2025 for the New York Comedy Festival, but first she took some time out over Zoom to tell me about what she has learned from cosplay, social media and experiencing different environments around the world. There’s a lot to get to, so let’s get to it!
MORE: See Saaniya Abbas at The Stand in NYC during the 2025 New York Comedy Festival
RELATED: Read my review of Saaniya Abbas: Hellarious at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe
Watch her most popular IG Reel, with more than 3.2 million views, where she learns how to say “girl” like an American
Learn more about Abbas, in her own words…
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