Kumail Nanjiani

Actor, Producer, Writer

Birthdate: May 2, 1978 (48 Years Old)

Birthplace: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Kumail Nanjiani is one of the first Pakistani-born comics who has enjoyed great success in the film, TV, and stand-up worlds. After launching his stand-up career in Chicago with a one-man show as well as guest spots on such shows as The Colbert Report, Nanjiani appeared in his first movie, Life as We Know It (2010), Warner Bros.’ rom-com directed by Greg Berlanti and co-starring Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, and Josh Lucas, and earning a triple of its $38 million budget with a $105.7 million gross. Over the next six years, Nanjiani landed several small supporting roles in generally successful studio-backed and indie comedies, including The Five-Year Engagement (2012), The Kings of Summer (2013), Hell Baby (2013), and Bad Milo! (2013), Sex Tape (2014), Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015), Hell and Back (2015), Goosebumps (2015), Central Intelligence (2016), and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016). Starting with Brother Nature (2016), Nanjiani landed larger (and billed) supporting roles, this one alongside Bobby Moynihan, Taran Killam, Rita Wilson, and Bill Pullman. Kumail Nanjiani had another larger supporting role opposite Chris D’Elia, Hannah Simone, and Bryan Greenberg in co-writer/director Bob Castrone’s comedy, Flock of Dudes (2016), followed by Nanjiani performing with Johnny Simmons, Maria Bello, Brittany Snow, Jane Lynch, and J.K. Simmons in the Kevin Pollak-directed comedy, The Late Bloomer (2016). Nanjiani had his breakthrough starring (as a version of himself) in the autobiographical rom-com, The Big Sick (2017), co-written by Nanjiani and his author-wife Emily V. Gordon, directed by Michael Showalter, and co-starring Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano, and after premiering at the Sundance film festival, grossing a knockout $56.4 million and earning a best original screenplay Oscar nomination. After appearing in the school comedy, Fist Fight (2017), as well as the Judy Greer-directed comedy-drama, A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2017), Nanjiani co-starred with Dave Franco, Michael Pena, Abbi Jacobson, and Fred Armisen in the Phil Lord-Christopher Miller animated production, The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), earning a poor $123 million global gross against $70 million costs. Nanjiani played himself in co-writer/director Miguel Arteta’s Duck Butter (2018), starring Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa, and premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. Kumail Nanjiani had his second starring role—and his first in a studio movie—alongside Dave Bautista in Disney’s buddy cop comedy, Stuber (2019), directed by Michael Dowse, and with Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, Mira Sorvino, and Karen Gillan, but earning a weak $32 million global gross. Nanjiani took on the voice role of an alien in the franchise reboot, Men in Black: International (2019), directed by F. Gary Gray, with Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Emma Thompson, and Liam Neeson, and earned $254 million worldwide for Sony Pictures. Nanjiani followed this with another voice role (as an ostrich) in co-writer/director Stephen Gaghan’s Dolittle (2020), starring Robert Downey Jr., and receiving poor reviews and disappointing box office ($251.5 million gross against $192 million costs). Kumail Nanjiani starred and executive-produced the rom-com, The Lovebirds (2020), co-starring Issa Rae, and intended for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures until the COVID-19 pandemic compelled a streaming release by Netflix. Nanjiani co-starred in his first Marvel superhero movie in co-writer/director Chloé Zhao’s tepidly received Eternals (2021), with Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie, and though the movie grossed $402 million, this was against a huge $236 million budget. Nanjiani took on another co-starring voice role in Illumination/Universal’s animated adventure, Migration (2023), written by Mike White and directed by Benjamin Renner, and with the voice cast of Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, and Danny DeVito. Nanjiani was one of the new cast members (along with Patton Oswalt) in the fifth edition of the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (date to be announced), with Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and McKenna Grace starring under co-writer Gil Kenan’s direction.

Personal Life
Movies
Facts

Personal life

Kumail Nanjiani was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and was raised by parents Aijaz and Shabana Nanjiani. Nanjiani attended Karachi-based St. Michael’s Convent School and then Karachi Grammar School. For his higher education, Nanjiani moved from Pakistan to the U.S. to attend Grinnell College in Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Computer Science and Philosophy. Nanjiani has been married to former family and couples therapist, producer, and author Emily V. Gordon since 2007. Nanjiani’s height is 5’ 8 ½ ”. Nanjiani’s estimated net worth is $8 million.

Known For

The Breadwinner

(2026)

Driver's Ed

(2026)

The Wrong Girls

(2026)

Ella McCay

(2025)

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Haja Estree (2022)

Awards

Nominee, Best Original Screenplay, Academy Awards (2018); Nominee, Best International Production, BAFTA TV Awards (2021); Winner, Comedy Star of the Year, CinemaCon (2017); Two-time Nominee, Best Guest Actor/Best Actor, Emmy Awards (2019, 2023); Nominee, Best Screenplay, Gotham Awards (2017); Nominee, Best Comedy Feature, Humanitas Prizes (2018); Two-time Nominee, Best Writing, NAACP Image Awards (2018, 2021); Winner, Best First Screenplay, Independent Spirit Awards (2018); Nominee, Best Cast, Screen Actors Guild Awards (2018); Nominee, Best Original Screenplay, Writers Guild of America Awards (2018).

Oscar

Oscar

Academy Awards, USA

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Awards

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Awards

Kumail Nanjiani Movies

Actor

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Previous (19)

2024 |
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
2024
Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
More Info
asNadeem
2023 |
Migration
Migration
2023
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
A family of ducks try to convince their overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime.
More Info
asMack
2022 |
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
2022
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi must save young Leia after she is kidnapped, all the while being pursued by Imperial Inquisitors and his former Padawan now known as Darth Vader.
asHaja Estree
2021 |
Eternals
Eternals
2021
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.
More Info
asKingo
2020 |
Dolittle
Dolittle
2020
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A physician who can talk to animals embarks on an adventure to find a legendary island with a young apprentice and a crew of strange pets.
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asPlimpton
2019 |
Men in Black: International
Men in Black: International
2019
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The MIB tackle a mole in their organization.
More Info
asPawny
2019 |
Stuber
Stuber
2019
Action, Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
A detective recruits his Uber driver into an unexpected night of adventure.
More Info
asStu
2018 |
Duck Butter
Duck Butter
2018
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.
More Info
asJake
2017 |
The Lego Ninjago Movie
The Lego Ninjago Movie
2017
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Shunned by everyone for being the son of an evil warlord, a teenager seeks to defeat him with the help of his fellow ninjas.
More Info
asJay
2017 |
Fist Fight
Fist Fight
2017
Comedy
When one school teacher unwittingly causes another teacher's dismissal, he is challenged to an after-school fight.
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asMehar
2017 |
The Big Sick
The Big Sick
2017
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.
asKumail
2016 |
Brother Nature
Brother Nature
2016
Comedy
Strait-laced go-getter Roger hopes to propose to his dream girl during a weekend getaway at her family's lake house, but his eager-to-be-best-buds potential brother-in-law might accidentally wreck his plans.
asRiggleman
2016 |
Central Intelligence
Central Intelligence
2016
Action, Comedy, Crime
After he reconnects with an awkward pal from high school through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
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asJared the Airport Security Guard
2016 |
Hello, My Name Is Doris
Hello, My Name Is Doris
2016
Comedy, Drama, Romance
A self-help seminar inspires a sixty-something woman to romantically pursue her younger co-worker.
asNasir
2016 |
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
2016
Comedy, Romance
Two hard-partying brothers place an online ad to find the perfect dates for their sister's Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves out-hustled by an uncontrollable duo.
More Info
asKeanu
-- |
Hot Tub Time Machine 2as Brad
-- |
Sex Tapeas Punit
-- |
as Peyton
-- |
as Mr. Rivers

Writer

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Previous (1)

2017 |
The Big Sick
The Big Sick
2017
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.

Facts About Kumail Nanjiani

Phobia: Kumail Nanjiani has a condition known as equinophobia or a fear of horses. Influential: Nanjiani attained a spot in Time magazine’s 2018 list of the “100 Most Influential People.” Beliefs: Kumail Nanjiani was raised in Islam, but has stated that he is an atheist.

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