Meet the Bin Laughin of comedy!

Azhar Usman, a US-Chicago-born Muslim comedian, worked as a lawyer for not too long. But he decided his calling was standup comedy and he had followed the acts of several good standup comics when he was studying law.

Apart from his standup comedy, which is now in its seventh year, and which takes him to not only a number of cities in America and Canada [Images] but also to Egypt [Images], Australia [Images] and the United Kingdom, he also works for a community organisation in Chicago.

But standup comedy is his mainstay. Some people have called him the Bin Laughin of comedy, thanks to the luxuriant beard he sports. He says his sole goal, through comedy, is to promote better understanding of Islam and Muslims.

Born of immigrant parents from Bihar, he has also performed with a number of desi comedians. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School.

His concert film, Allah Made Me Funny, is showing in many American cities. It has good amount of praise though some critics have felt the comedy -- which features his two partners -- is a little tame.

This is how he describes his act to Arthur J Pais:

• Also Read: Allah Made Me Funny: Next cult hit?