Shazia Mirza likes to break new grounds. Whether it is giving up biochemistry to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian or making jokes about President Asif Ali Zardari while performing in Pakistan, she is nonchalant about her choices. The British stand-up comedian of Pakistani descent bowed down to family pressure to become a science teacher. But she honed her writing and acting skills part-time at drama school and with late-night gigs across England.

Shazia Mirza bowed down to family pressure to become a science teacher, but secretly honed her writing and acting skills at drama school and with late-night gigs across UK