The Powerhouse ‘Influester’: Zakir Khan | by Medha Vora | Jul, 2023

No, I am not getting paid to write this. I am just a fan expressing my admiration.

My brother introduced me, with some persistent convincing, to watch Zakir’s performance on YouTube. “He is too good. You have to watch him,” he said as he continued playing without giving me a chance to voice my opposition.

It was one of Zakir’s early performances. Or perhaps his first? I am not quite sure. The Sakta Launda performed on AIB Diwas, explaining his experience with a Delhi girl in the most hilarious manner. He became an instant hit with my brother, mother, and me.

Together, we have laughed along watching Zakir’s stand-up acts, making complete use of our Prime membership. I have, however, never had the opportunity to watch him LIVE. He has come a long way, from being a stand-up comedian to a judge to a show-maker, and now he is set his heart on claiming the title of an “influester.”

What am I talking about?

Zakir Khan’s latest promotional campaign for Deciml.

A few days ago, when my coffee failed to awaken my senses, I resorted to Instagram to do the job faster. I scanned through my feed and came upon Zakir’s video. Being a fan, I couldn’t get myself to scroll without first reviewing it.

The ad starts off with a phone call from the Deciml founder Satyajeet. The ad is comical from the get-go and flows seamlessly, imbibing Zakir’s characteristic simplicity. Zakir comprehends the nitty-gritty of the app and goes from creating an on-the-spot promo as an influencer to becoming an investor, welcoming Satyjeet on board his own ship. Moreover, he coins the term ‘Influester,’ asking his assistant to call Oxford and register it.

Deciml is a fintech platform that aims to encourage individuals to save and invest their spare change. By rounding up expenses to the nearest ten and investing the difference, the platform helps users save money without significant effort. Deciml targets youngsters to instill the habit of investing from an early age, and who better to reach out to youngsters than influencers?

The writers Girish Narayandass, Anuya Jakatdar, and Sainee Raj at Bare Bones Collective have done a fabulous job crafting the ad to befit Zakir’s natural talent. Now, the trio also created other ads in the campaign, but I personally felt they didn’t match up to Zakir’s style. One featured Varun Thakur in his classic Vicky Malhotra avatar; another had Suhani Shah using her mentalist abilities, and another with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia. While Bare Bones Collective is rolling out more ads in the campaign, so far, I have loved Zakir’s the most.

Maybe it’s my bias as a fan; maybe not. So, I’m sharing the links to four ads in the campaign, and I want you to decide which one strikes a chord the most. Don’t forget to comment below!