--- name: "Kumail Nanjiani" canonical: "https://film.one/person/kumail-nanjiani" fi1m_id: "kumail-nanjiani" imdb_id: "nm3529685" tmdb_id: 466505 wikidata_id: "Q6443390" roles: ["Actor"] born: "2 May 1978" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 51 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-23T04:14:50.729967+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Kumail Nanjiani ## Identity Kumail Nanjiani - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kumail-nanjiani - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** kumail-nanjiani - **IMDb ID:** nm3529685 - **TMDB ID:** 466505 - **Wikidata ID:** Q6443390 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumail_Nanjiani, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6443390, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3529685/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/466505 Actor. Born 2 May 1978 in Karachi, Pakistan. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 2 May 1978, Karachi, Pakistan - **Active:** 2014–present - **Also known as:** Kumail Ali Nanjiani - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 6 acting, 1 writing - **Frequently works with:** [Eric Appel](https://film.one/person/eric-appel.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 51, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 82 (1), 2020s 51 (6) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 51 to 49 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 5 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 5, Adventure 3, Family 2, Fantasy 2, Action 1, Science Fiction 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $876m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumail_Nanjiani, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6443390, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3529685/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/466505 ## Coming up - *The Comeback King* (2027-02-03) ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Eternals*](https://film.one/film/eternals.md) (57), [*Dolittle*](https://film.one/film/dolittle.md) (32) - **Apple TV:** [*Little America*](https://film.one/tv/little-america.md) (82) - **HBO Max:** [*Silicon Valley*](https://film.one/tv/silicon-valley.md) (82) - **Netflix:** [*Death to 2020*](https://film.one/film/death-to-2020.md) (47) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Kumail Nanjiani > Kumail Nanjiani makes self-interest funny by letting the man defending it sound faintly wronged. We value that timing and prickliness, though his comic presence is no guarantee that the film around him will work. Nadeem in *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024) will sell anything, then seems personally offended to discover that this time it mattered. Kumail Nanjiani makes that indignation funny without asking us to approve of the man. We warmed to him because his sense of grievance is so much larger than his sense of responsibility. It is a good use of an actor whose quick delivery can make an excuse sound almost reasonable. Gil Kenan's film earns little confidence as a family story, but Nanjiani gives us somebody whose foolishness we can enjoy. The awkward-nerd supporting parts of his early career gave way to Dinesh in *Silicon Valley* (2014–2019), his breakthrough. Writing has mattered too: his collaborators include Emily V. Gordon, and he co-wrote and starred in *The Big Sick* (2017). That semi-autobiographical lead gave his self-aware humour more room than a supporting part could. Kingo in *Eternals* (2021) and the dramatic lead as Steve Banerjee in *Welcome to Chippendales* (2022) show the subsequent effort to get beyond familiar comic territory. *Dolittle* (2020), in which he voices Plimpton, is the less encouraging side of the career. Its animals talk so persistently that even modest comic pleasures become hard to enjoy. We would not make Nanjiani responsible for that failure, but neither can we recommend it as a useful place to hear his timing at work. An actor associated with fast-talking characters needs something around him other than more talk. Here we wanted fewer lines from the animals, not another comic voice. We are more interested in what he can do with a flawed leading character than in seeing him supply another ensemble with a few jokes. The move into drama is worth following, provided it leaves room for the awkwardness that makes his comedy useful. Neither of these family films is a reason to choose an evening's viewing on his name alone. ## Biography Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American actor and stand-up comedian. Born on 2 May 1978 in Karachi, Pakistan, he moved to the United States at the age of 18. He graduated from Grinnell College with a double major in computer science and philosophy before beginning stand-up comedy in Chicago. Nanjiani is known for playing Dinesh in the HBO series *Silicon Valley* (2014–2019). He co-wrote and starred in the film *The Big Sick* (2017) with his wife Emily V. Gordon; the screenplay received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His other film and television credits include Kingo in *Eternals* (2021) and Nadeem in *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these - *The Breadwinner* (2026), Fi1m 35, as Peyton — [page](https://film.one/film/the-breadwinner.md) - *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), Fi1m 52, as Nadeem — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md) - *Eternals* (2021), Fi1m 57, as Kingo — [page](https://film.one/film/eternals.md) - *Death to 2020* (2020), Fi1m 47, as Bark Multiverse — [page](https://film.one/film/death-to-2020.md) - *Dolittle* (2020), Fi1m 32, as Plimpton (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/dolittle.md) - *Silicon Valley* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Dinesh Chugtai — [page](https://film.one/tv/silicon-valley.md) ### Wrote (1) - *Little America* (2020), Fi1m 82, Teleplay, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/little-america.md) ## Complete filmography (95) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Comeback King* (2027), Actor - *The Wrong Girls* (2026), as GG (voice) - *The Breadwinner* (2026), as Peyton — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/the-breadwinner.md) - *Over Your Dead Body* (2026), as Hollywood Dan (uncredited) - *See You When I See You* (2026), Producer - *The Screener* (2026), series, as Parker Harrison - *Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts* (2025), Writer, Executive Producer - *Ella McCay* (2025), as Trooper Nash - *Driver's Ed* (2025), as Mr. Rivers - *Deli Boys* (2025), series, as Danyal Khan — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/deli-boys.md) - *Is / Was \ Will* (2025), as Executive Producer - *Destroy All Neighbors* (2024), as Smelting Refinery Guard - *Fallout* (2024), series, as Xander Harkness — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallout.md) - *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), as Nadeem — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md) - *Migration* (2023), as Mack Mallard (voice) - *Krapopolis* (2023), series, as Spartan Army Leader (voice) - *Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake* (2023), series, as Prismo (voice) - *Project Greenlight* (2023), series, Executive Producer - *History of the World: Part II* (2023), series, as Vatsyayana - *Poker Face* (2023), series, as Joseph 'Gator Joe' Pilson — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md) - *Welcome to Chippendales* (2022), series, as Somen 'Steve' Banerjee · Executive Producer - *Bee and PuppyCat* (2022), series, as Howell (voice) - *Obi-Wan Kenobi* (2022), series, as Haja Estree - *The Boys Presents: Diabolical* (2022), series, as Vik (voice) - *Murderville* (2022), series, as Kumail Nanjiani - *Eternals* (2021), as Kingo — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/eternals.md) - *Only Murders in the Building* (2021), series, as Rudy Thurber — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md) - *What If...?* (2021), series, as Kingo (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/what-if.md) - *Death to 2020* (2020), as Bark Multiverse — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/death-to-2020.md) - *The Lovebirds* (2020), as Jibran · Executive Producer - *Little America* (2020), series, Executive Producer, Teleplay — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/little-america.md) - *Dolittle* (2020), as Plimpton (voice) — Fi1m 32, [page](https://film.one/film/dolittle.md) - *Bless the Harts* (2019), series, as Jesus (voice) - *The Boys* (2019), series, as Kumail Nanjiani (uncredited) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md) - *Stuber* (2019), as Stu Prasad - *Men in Black: International* (2019), as Pawny (voice) - *The Twilight Zone* (2019), series, as Samir Wassan - *Duck Butter* (2018), as Jake - *The Lego Ninjago Movie* (2017), as Jay (voice) - *A Happening of Monumental Proportions* (2017), as Perry - *The Big Sick* (2017), as Kumail Nanjiani · Executive Producer, Writer - *Fist Fight* (2017), as Officer Mehar - *The Late Bloomer* (2016), as Rich - *Brother Nature* (2016), as Riggleman - *HarmonQuest* (2016), series, as Eddie Lizzard - *Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates* (2016), as Keanu - *Central Intelligence* (2016), as Jared the Airport Security Guard - *Hello, My Name Is Doris* (2015), as Nasir - *Hell and Back* (2015), as Dave the Demon (voice) - *Addicted to Fresno* (2015), as Damon - *The Grinder* (2015), series, as Prosecutor Leonard - *Flock of Dudes* (2015), as Ro - *Major Lazer* (2015), series, as Thor (voice) - *Hot Tub Time Machine 2* (2015), as Brad Syed - *Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero* (2014), series, as Cute-ling Mayor (voice) - *Garfunkel and Oates* (2014), series, as Jordan - *Sex Tape* (2014), as Punit - *The Last of the Great Romantics* (2014), as George the Counter Guy - *Silicon Valley* (2014), series, as Dinesh Chugtai — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/silicon-valley.md) - *TripTank* (2014), series, as Dick Genie (voice) - *Loaded* (2014), as Raza - *Broad City* (2014), series, as Benny Calitri — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md) - *Timms Valley* (2013), as Arjit Pondicherry - *Hell Baby* (2013), as Cable Guy - *Bad Milo!* (2013), as Bobbi - *Kumail Nanjiani: Beta Male* (2013), Writer - *The Kings of Summer* (2013), as Gary - *The Arrangement* (2013), as Alfred Dalton - *Bunk* (2012), series, Actor - *Burning Love* (2012), series, as Zak - *The Five-Year Engagement* (2012), as Pakistani Chef - *Veep* (2012), series, as Statistician — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md) - *Key & Peele* (2012), series, as College Kid #1 — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/key-and-peele.md) - *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Pindar Singh - *Traffic Light* (2011), series, as Paul - *Portlandia* (2011), series, as Cell Phone Salesman, Birthday Loan Officer · Human Bandwidth Manager, Denim Salesman, SoCal Waiter - *Bob's Burgers* (2011), series, as Skip Marooch (voice) - *Life As We Know It* (2010), as Simon - *Reggie Watts: Why Shit So Crazy?* (2010), Actor - *Adventure Time* (2010), series, as Prismo (voice) - *Ugly Americans* (2010), series, as Neilando Patel (voice) - *Community* (2009), series, as Lapari — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md) - *Archer* (2009), series, as Farooq Ashkani (voice) - *Michael & Michael Have Issues* (2009), series, as Kumail - *Aqua Teen Hunger Force* (2000), series, as Bees (voice) - *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Pasha — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md) - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Theo (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Thread: An Insidious Tale*, Actor - *Very Young Frankenstein*, series, Actor - *Green Bank*, Actor - *Sex Criminals*, series, Executive Producer, Creator - *All Day & All Night*, Actor - *Compulsive Liar*, as Simon · Screenplay, Executive Producer - *Howl*, Director, Producer - *Sidekicks*, Screenplay ## Gallery - !["The Big Sick" panel at Sundance 2017, Park City UT](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-69a44537a2f2.jpg) "The Big Sick" panel at Sundance 2017, Park City UT — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Emily_V._Gordon_and_Kumail_Nanjiani_%2832616892101%29.jpg/1280px-Emily_V._Gordon_and_Kumail_Nanjiani_%2832616892101%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - !["The Big Sick" panel at Sundance 2017, Park City UT](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-7a9a7dfd13b4.jpg) "The Big Sick" panel at Sundance 2017, Park City UT — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Holly_Hunter%2C_Judd_Apatow%2C_Emily_V._Gordon_and_Kumail_Nanjiani_%2831897405544%29.jpg/1280px-Holly_Hunter%2C_Judd_Apatow%2C_Emily_V._Gordon_and_Kumail_Nanjiani_%2831897405544%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jonah Ray goes over the events that transpired during his terrible restaurant experience Wednesday at the Meltdown. 12.7.11 © Atrossity Photography (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-f5fe9f4b9191.jpg) Jonah Ray goes over the events that transpired during his terrible restaurant experience Wednesday at the Meltdown. 12.7.11 © Atrossity Photography (2011) — Tyler Ross, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Jonah_Ray_Kumail_Nanjiani_the_Meltdown_December_2011.jpg/1280px-Jonah_Ray_Kumail_Nanjiani_the_Meltdown_December_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kevin Feige, Chloe Zhao, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Angelina Jolie speaking at the (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-9c24f7007336.jpg) Kevin Feige, Chloe Zhao, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Angelina Jolie speaking at the (2019) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Kevin_Feige%2C_Chloe_Zhao%2C_Richard_Madden%2C_Kumail_Nanjiani%2C_Lauren_Ridloff%2C_Brian_Tyree_Henry%2C_Salma_Hayek%2C_Lia_McHugh%2C_Don_Lee_%26_Angelina_Jolie_%2848462866427%29.jpg/1280px-Kevin_Feige%2C_Chloe_Zhao%2C_Richard_Madden%2C_Kumail_Nanjiani%2C_Lauren_Ridloff%2C_Brian_Tyree_Henry%2C_Salma_Hayek%2C_Lia_McHugh%2C_Don_Lee_%26_Angelina_Jolie_%2848462866427%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-210253831d2d.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-3fe4b0a55e01.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-19e5ece7160c.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB - ![Kumail Ali Nanjiani at the "See You When I See You" (2026)](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-d2baba818399.jpg) Kumail Ali Nanjiani at the "See You When I See You" (2026) — Colleen Sturtevant, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/KumailAliNanjiani.jpg/1280px-KumailAliNanjiani.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kumail Ali Nanjiani at the "See You When I See You" (2026)](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-7a728711297d.jpg) Kumail Ali Nanjiani at the "See You When I See You" (2026) — Colleen Sturtevant, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Kumail_Ali_Nanjiani.jpg/1280px-Kumail_Ali_Nanjiani.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-ae09c71b5204.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-6ecd1ace547f.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB - ![Kumail Nanjiani](https://film.one/media/person/11854/gallery-49c0f848b8dc.jpg) Kumail Nanjiani — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2018: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *The Big Sick* ### Other awards — 1 won - Time 100 2018: Time 100 (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kumail-nanjiani