---
name: "Poorna Jagannathan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/poorna-jagannathan"
fi1m_id: "poorna-jagannathan"
imdb_id: "nm1567198"
tmdb_id: 428440
wikidata_id: "Q12060833"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 December 1972"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-25T04:06:28.685543+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."
---

# Poorna Jagannathan

## Identity

Poorna Jagannathan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/poorna-jagannathan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** poorna-jagannathan
- **IMDb ID:** nm1567198
- **TMDB ID:** 428440
- **Wikidata ID:** Q12060833
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poorna_Jagannathan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12060833, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1567198/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/428440

Actor. Born 22 December 1972 in Tunis, Tunisia.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 December 1972, Tunis, Tunisia
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Also known as:** Poorna 
- **Frequently works with:** [Bill Camp](https://film.one/person/bill-camp.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 65 (1), 2010s 81 (1), 2020s 70 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 70 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 3, Mystery 2, Crime 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $12m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poorna_Jagannathan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12060833, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1567198/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/428440

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Night Of*](https://film.one/tv/the-night-of.md) (81), [*Lanterns*](https://film.one/tv/lanterns.md) (68)
- **Netflix:** [*Never Have I Ever*](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Deli Boys*](https://film.one/tv/deli-boys.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Poorna Jagannathan is an Indian-American actress and producer. Born on 22 December 1972 in Tunis, Tunisia, she grew up in several countries including India, Pakistan, Ireland, Brazil and Argentina. She graduated in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and trained in acting at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University and The Barrow Group.

Jagannathan is known for her role as Safar Khan in the HBO miniseries *The Night Of* (2016) and as Dr Nalini Vishwakumar in the Netflix series *Never Have I Ever* (2020–2023). She co-conceived, produced and performed in the play *Nirbhaya* (2013), which addressed sexual violence and received an Amnesty International Award. Her other credits include recurring roles in *Better Call Saul* (2015), *The Act* (2019) and *Defending Jacob* (2020), the series *Deli Boys* (2025–2026), and the film *Wolfs* (2024). She appears as Zoe Macon in the HBO series *Lanterns* (2026).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, hollywoodreporter.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Lanterns* (2026), Fi1m 68, as Zoe Macon — [page](https://film.one/tv/lanterns.md)
- *Deli Boys* (2025), Fi1m 68, as Lucky — [page](https://film.one/tv/deli-boys.md)
- *Never Have I Ever* (2020), Fi1m 74, as Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar — [page](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md)
- *The Night Of* (2016), Fi1m 81, as Safar Khan — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-night-of.md)
- *The Weather Man* (2005), Fi1m 65, as NY Pedestrian — [page](https://film.one/film/the-weather-man.md)

## Complete filmography (47)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Lanterns* (2026), series, as Zoe Macon — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/lanterns.md)
- *Deli Boys* (2025), series, as Lucky — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/deli-boys.md)
- *Goodrich* (2024), as Dr. Verma
- *Wolfs* (2024), as June
- *Turtles All the Way Down* (2024), as Dr. Kira Singh
- *The Out-Laws* (2023), as Rehan Zakaryan
- *I'll Show You Mine* (2022), as Priya
- *House Comes with a Bird* (2022), as Langley
- *Alia's Birth* (2021), Actor
- *The Wilds* (2020), series, as Rana Jadmani
- *Never Have I Ever* (2020), series, as Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md)
- *Defending Jacob* (2020), series, as Elizabeth Vogel
- *Messiah* (2020), series, as Sanjana Mirza
- *The Dead Center* (2019), as Sarah Grey
- *The Act* (2019), series, as Lakshmi Chandra
- *Share* (2019), as Kerri
- *Sorry for Your Loss* (2018), series, as Matt's Psychiatrist
- *An Actor Prepares* (2018), as Dr. Fisher
- *Mile 22* (2018), as Dorothy Brady
- *Daisy Winters* (2017), as Annabel Kumar
- *Room 104* (2017), series, as Divya (voice)
- *Gypsy* (2017), series, as Larin Inamdar
- *The Circle* (2017), as Dr. Jessica Villalobos
- *Carrie Pilby* (2017), as Fliss
- *Taken* (2017), series, as Judith Chapman
- *Growing Up Smith* (2017), as Nalini Bhatnagar
- *The Night Of* (2016), series, as Safar Khan — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-night-of.md)
- *Better Call Saul* (2015), series, as Dr. Maureen Bruckner — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/better-call-saul.md)
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Nirah Ahmad — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Thanks for Sharing* (2013), as Lili Kazhani
- *Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani* (2013), as Riyana Sarai
- *Peace, Love & Misunderstanding* (2011), as Mira
- *Delhi Belly* (2011), as Menaka Vashisht
- *Rizzoli & Isles* (2010), series, as Mrs. Jalbani
- *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, as Dr. Nitya Agarwal
- *Karma Calling* (2009), as Quality Control
- *Awake* (2007), as Dr. Neyer's Nurse
- *Modern Day Arranged Marriage* (2005), as Suna
- *The Weather Man* (2005), as NY Pedestrian — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-weather-man.md)
- *Dealbreaker* (2005), as Fran's girlfriend
- *Starved* (2005), series, as PJ
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Tech #1
- *Jonny Zero* (2005), series, as Dr. Shamira
- *She Hate Me* (2004), as Song's Girlfriend, Song's Girlfriend (as Poorna)
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Dr. Sikh
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Maya Samra
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Rehana Khemlani — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)

## Gallery

- ![Lanterns panel featuring Chris Mundy, Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Damon Lindelof, Poorna Jagannathan, Garret Dillahunt, Tom King, and Nathan Fillion at San Die (2026)](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-0b169519be95.jpg) Lanterns panel featuring Chris Mundy, Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Damon Lindelof, Poorna Jagannathan, Garret Dillahunt, Tom King, and Nathan Fillion at San Die (2026) — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Lanterns_at_San_Diego_Comic_Con_2026.jpg/1280px-Lanterns_at_San_Diego_Comic_Con_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Poorna Jagannathan](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-258fc101c585.jpg) Poorna Jagannathan — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Poorna_Jagannathan_at_San_Diego_Comic_Con_2026.jpg/1280px-Poorna_Jagannathan_at_San_Diego_Comic_Con_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-fae1e2c4726d.jpg) Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023) — The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/V20230503LJ-0275.jpg/1280px-V20230503LJ-0275.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-a71b9c2e7e03.jpg) Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023) — The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/V20230503LJ-0322-2.jpg/1280px-V20230503LJ-0322-2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Poorna Jagannathan](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-731d782c206c.jpg) Poorna Jagannathan — Image via TMDB
- ![Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/22097/gallery-c1f3816f4323.jpg) Vice President Kamala Harris joins actress and producer Poorna Jagannathan and “Dear Asian Americans” podcast host Jerry Won for a moderated conversation at the (2023) — The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/V20230503LJ-0384.jpg/1280px-V20230503LJ-0384.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/poorna-jagannathan