{{short description|South African stand-up comedian (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox comedian | image = File:XdtlSbNj.jpg large.jpg | image_size = | caption = Surka in 2018 | birth_name = Kaneez-e-Fatema Surka | birth_date ={{birthdateandage|1983|10|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Umtata, Transkei | alma_mater = Rhodes University (B.A.) | active = 2006–present | genre = Improvisational comedy | notable_work = {{ubl|''The Week That Wasn't''|''The General Fun Game Show''|''All India Bakchod''|''Comicstaan''}} | website = {{twitter|kaneezsurka}} }}
'''Kaneez-e-Fatema Surka''' (born 28 October 1983) is a South African improv comedian, actress, and YouTuber, based in India. She started her career with the show ''The Week That Wasn't''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/people-find-it-easily-digestible-when-guys-are-a-little-crude-comedian-kaneez-surka/story-BwrFZth9a6Dsc8RwXwRilK.html |title=People find it easily digestible when guys are a little crude: Comedian Kaneez Surka |date=15 December 2016 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/kaneez-surka-aib-amazon-prime-video-5172736/ |title=Kaneez Surka on stand-up, multiculturalism and political humour |date=13 May 2018 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/kaneez-surka-im-scared-to-do-stand-up-comedy/19633162 |title=Kaneez Surka: I m scared to do stand-up comedy |date=24 July 2018 |work=mid-day |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://t2online.com/lifestyle/from-metoo-to-bolly-humour-kaneez-surka-really-random-rapid-fire/cid/18784 |title=From #MeToo to Bolly humour: Kaneez Surka takes our really random rapid fire |website=t2online.com |language=en |access-date=15 August 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331025156/http://t2online.com/lifestyle/from-metoo-to-bolly-humour-kaneez-surka-really-random-rapid-fire/cid/18784 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/watch-mallika-dua-kaneez-surka-reprise-roles-in-aibs-if-apps-were-people-2-4124807.html |title=Watch: Mallika Dua, Kaneez Surka reprise roles in AIB's If Apps Were People 2 |work=Firstpost |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> She has performed on various stand up platforms.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/comedienne-kaneez-surka-hosts-three-popular-guests-in-her-game-show/19446155 |title=Comedienne Kaneez Surka hosts Sapan Verma, Sahil Shah and RJ Malishka in her game show |date=22 May 2018 |work=mid-day |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> She was a judge on the first two seasons of the Amazon Prime Video stand-up comedy reality show ''Comicstaan''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://businessofcinema.com/bollywood_news/comicstaans-latest-episode-focuses-on-kaneez-surkas-improv-round/424196 |title=Comicstaan's Latest Episode Focuses On Kaneez Surka's Improv Round! |date=24 July 2018 |work=Businessofcinema.com |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/hot-on-web/amazon-prime-video-comicstaan-review-the-future-is-pretty-funny |title='Comicstaan' Review: The Future Looks Pretty Funny |work=The Quint |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref> She also hosts an online comedy game show, ''The General Fun Game Show'' on YouTube.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/youtube-series-comedians-books-reading-the-botcast-books-on-toast/18071158 |title=Comedians talk about books they read in new YouTube series |date=14 March 2017 |work=mid-day |access-date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/things-to-do/things-to-do-in-mumbai-today/articleshow/65409027.cms |title=Things to do in Mumbai today |work=Mumbai Mirror |access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref>
==Early and personal life== Kaneez-e-Fatema Surka was born on 28 October 1983<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CG5ObcEDmaJ/ |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> in Umtata, Transkei. She studied in DSG, Graham School and attended Rhodes University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in law and psychology.<ref name="Kale 2018">{{Cite web |url=https://astray.in/interviews/kaneez-surka |title=Kaneez Surka |last=Kale |first=Arun |date=26 August 2014 |website=Astray |access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref>
Ethnically a Gujarati, Kaneez Surka was born into a Muslim family originally from Kapadvanj, which allowed her to have a deep understanding of different cultures and religions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I want to explore story-telling: Kaneez Surka |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/theatre/kaneez-surka-interview/articleshow/55512738.cms |work=The Times of India |last=Vadgama |first=Arpita |date=19 November 2016 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210712233001/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/theatre/kaneez-surka-interview/articleshow/55512738.cms}}</ref>
In 2018, Surka accused comedian Aditi Mittal of sexual harassment, stating that Mittal had forcefully kissed her on the mouth. Mittal denied the accusation, leading to Surka publicly posting what had happened on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2018 |title=Kaneez Surka accuses comedian Aditi Mittal of sexual harassment |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/kaneez-surka-accuses-comedian-aditi-mittal-of-sexual-harassment/story-5PCSKJR9ONZ1tRzkfBx0jI.html}}</ref> In October 2018, Mittal said that "she gave the improv artiste, who was hosting an open mic, a peck on the lips as a joke, as a part of the act" and apologised later to Surka when she realised "the discomfort she had caused".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-10-11 |title=#MeToo: Comedian Aditi Mittal apologises to Kaneez Surka, says her intentions were not 'sexual in nature' |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/metoo-comedian-aditi-mittal-apologises-to-kaneez-surka-says-her-intentions-were-not-sexual-in-nature/articleshow/66159684.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2020-05-22 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref>
==Career== Surka was part of the Mumbai improv scene since 2009.<ref name="Kale 2018" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/comedy/the-rising-stars-of-comedy/laughter-therapy-with-the-rising-stars-of-comedy-367904 |title=Laughter Therapy With The Rising Stars of Comedy |date=18 May 2015 |publisher=NDTV}}</ref> Her initial work in Mumbai was with Divya Palat's Imps troupe.<ref name="Kale 2018" /> Surka was co-director of a Mumbai-based story-telling club "Tall Tales"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/tell-stories-at-tall-tales-mumbais-newest-storytelling-club/214135 |title=Tell stories at Tall Tales, Mumbai's newest storytelling club |last=Gianani |first=Kareena |date=19 May 2013 |website=Mid Day}}</ref> in 2013.
She achieved mainstream popularity on the satirical news show ''The Week That Wasn't''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/small-talk-the-improv-lady/articleshow/58556388.cms |title=Small talk: The improv lady |work=Mumbai Mirror |access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref> on CNN-News18 (formerly CNN-IBN). She also worked with Weirdass Comedy, a Vir Das venture and then began collaborating with<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/life-style/nothing-half-baked-about-it/111262.html |title=Nothing half-baked about it |last=Singh |first=Jasmine |date=26 July 2015 |work=The Tribune |archive-date=9 September 2018 |access-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222008/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/life-style/nothing-half-baked-about-it/111262.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and making appearances in several All India Bakchod videos including roles such as Clitika from "A Woman's Besties", "Honest Weddings", "Honest Bars & Restaurants" and the Instagram character from "If Apps Were People". She also teaches the art of improv comedy, proving her comedic skills by being on the judge panel in Amazon Prime's stand-up comedy reality show ''Comicstaan''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/comicstaan-tanmay-bhat-kanan-gill-kaneez-surka-on-amazons-upcoming-show-and-all-things-comedy-4646661.html |title=Comictaan |work=firstpost |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="Kale 2018" /> and ''Improv All Stars'' for Amazon Prime Video and ''Queens Of Comedy''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/richa-chadha-rohan-joshi-and-kaneez-surka-roped-in-to-judge-queens-of-comedy/articleshow/59673869.cms |title=Queens Of Comedy |work=Mumbai Mirror |access-date=20 July 2018}}</ref> for TLC. Surka is part of an improv group called "The Improvisers"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/kaneez-surka-aib-amazon-prime-video-5172736/ |title=Kaneez Surka on stand-up, multiculturalism and political humour |last=Singh |first=Anvita |date=13 May 2018 |website=The Indian Express |access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref> along with Abish Mathew, Kanan Gill, and Kenny Sebastian, and has an improv special titled ''Something From Nothing'' on Amazon Prime Video.
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable !Year !Title !Platform !Role |- |2005 |''Dosti: Friends Forever'' |Film |Anjali's friend |- |2014-2015 |''The Living Room'' |TV series | |- |2015-2016 |Various AIB videos |YouTube | |- |2016 |''Better Life Foundation'' |TV series |Plays Vashma Chandi (1 episode) |- |2017 |''Son of Abish'' |YouTube |Herself with Swara Bhaskar (Season 3 Episode 7)<ref>{{Citation |last=Abish Mathew |title=Son Of Abish feat. Kaneez Surka & Swara Bhaskar |date=24 November 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quAWroEKQUI |access-date=17 October 2018}}</ref> |- |2018 |''The Improvisers: Something from Nothing'' | rowspan="2" |Amazon Prime |Herself |- |2018-2019 |''Comicstaan'' |Judge |- |2020 |''Ladies Up'' | rowspan="2" |Netflix | rowspan="2" |Herself |- |2021 |''Comedy Premium League'' |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm8595003}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Surka, Kaneez}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:People from Mthatha Category:South African women comedians Category:South African stand-up comedians Category:South African YouTubers Category:South African film actresses Category:South African television actresses Category:South African people of Gujarati descent Category:South African people of Indian descent Category:South African Muslims Category:Actresses of Indian descent Category:South African emigrants to India Category:South African expatriate actresses in India Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Hindi television Category:Rhodes University alumni Category:South African women humorists Category:21st-century South African actresses Category:South African comedians