Who Is Kumail Nanjiani?
Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor who rose to prominence through his semi-autobiographical film The Big Sick, his role as Dinesh on HBO’s Silicon Valley, and later as Kingo in Marvel’s Eternals.[1][4] He began his career in Chicago stand-up clubs before moving into television writing and acting, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable South Asian performers in Hollywood.[1][4]
Over time, Nanjiani has built a diverse resume that spans indie films, studio comedies, animation, prestige TV, and blockbuster franchises.[1][2][4] His work is often noted for blending sharp observational humor with personal stories about immigration, relationships, and cultural identity, helping broaden the range of South Asian and Muslim representation in mainstream American entertainment.[1][4]
Night Thoughts: A Major Stand-Up Return
In 2025, Nanjiani returns to his stand-up roots with Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts, a new one-hour comedy special on Hulu that marks his first long-form stand-up release in nearly a decade.[3][6] Filmed in Chicago, where he first developed his voice as a comic, the special tackles subjects such as anxiety, aging, relationships, and everyday fears with his signature mix of self-deprecation and tightly crafted storytelling.[3][6]
The special is being positioned as a flagship comedy event for Hulu, promoted as Nanjiani’s big stand-up comeback after years focused primarily on film and television acting.[3][5][6] Its release underscores how streaming platforms continue to invest in distinctive stand-up voices while giving established performers like Nanjiani space to explore more personal material than they often can in scripted series or franchise films.[3][6]
New Movies, TV Roles, and Future Projects
Alongside his stand-up special, Nanjiani has an active slate of film roles, including voicing Marth in a new adaptation of Animal Farm and appearing as Mr. Rivers in the comedy Driver’s Ed.[1][2] He is also attached to projects such as Ella McCay, the animated feature The Breadwinner, and the dark comedy The Wrong Girls, which are in various stages of completion from post-production to pre-production.[1][2]
On television, Nanjiani continues to move between acting, voice work, and producing, following his Emmy-nominated performance as Somen "Steve" Banerjee in Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales.[1][2] Recent and upcoming credits include appearances in series like Poker Face and Only Murders in the Building, as well as voice roles in animated projects such as Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake, while he remains an executive producer on immigrant-focused anthology Little America.[1][2][4]