A Conversation with Kal Penn

Kal Penn is a multifaceted person who effortlessly moves between the worlds of entertainment and public service. With iconic roles in film and television, he has also made a lasting impact in policy and government, showcasing the influence of his platform for positive change.

You took a break from your acting career to work in the Obama administration. How did
that experience impact your perspective on both the entertainment industry and public
service?

I don’t view the two worlds with any connection, and feel fortunate to have had the chance
to work in two areas I’m passionate about. Taking a sabbatical from acting to work in public
service taught me first hand the power of each individual making their voice heard, and the
opportunity each of us has in our own way to make the world a better place.

Your career has included roles that contribute to better representation of minority
communities in media. How do you view the progress that has been made in recent
years, and what more do you think needs to be done?

It’s wonderful to see a more diverse playing field in film and television today than we had 10
or 20 years ago. I don’t view anything with any sort of finality – the entertainment industry and
representation as a whole are constantly evolving, which is always a positive for artists and
audiences.

You've played diverse roles in both comedies and dramas. How do you choose your
projects, and what attracts you to certain characters or storylines?

I love storytelling in all its forms and genres. A great script with a dynamic character is often
what I’ll look for – someone as different from myself as possible, someone grounded in their
world, and compelling.

Is there a particular project you've worked on that holds a special place in your heart,
either due to the message it conveyed or the experience you had while working on it?

I’ve had the privilege of working with so many good people over the years so far. Working
with Mira Nair and Jhumpa Lahiri on The Namesake was a very special one – Mira had been a
role model of mine since I was a kid, so to have the chance to work with her and the incredible
team she built was a dream come true.

You've taught courses at universities while pursuing your acting career. How do you
manage to balance these two different worlds, and how have they complemented
each other?

I’m not sure they’ve complimented each other per se, but I do enjoy research and teaching
and have been grateful for the opportunity to do both. When I was in college, I had relatively few
professors who had both practical industry experience and academic chops, so that initially
sparked my interest in research and teaching.

You've been involved in activism for various causes. Could you share some of your
proudest moments or achievements in advocating for social and political change?

In our house growing up, public service was always a family value. It wasn’t couched in
terms of politics, rather in terms of the stories my grandparents would tell us about marching
with Gandhi and standing up for what was right. As a White House aide, I was very proud of the

work our team put in on the DREAM Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the Affordable
Care Act.

What upcoming projects are you excited about, and can you provide any insights into
roles or genres you're looking to explore in the future?

Right now I’m hoping the studios will return to the table so that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA
can get a fair contract; the studio CEOs have forced a strike at the moment, which means
nobody is able to work in the struck categories. I love storytelling in all its forms and am hoping
to get back to work – ideally with some more comedies in the pipeline – as soon as the studios
put greed aside and offer us a fair deal.

From your diverse experiences in acting, politics, and academia, what are some
important lessons or insights you've gained that have contributed to your personal
growth?

I think it’s important to talk to people we disagree with. I’m not saying yell on their social
media comments, I mean actually sitting down to have conversations with people.

What advice would you give to young individuals like me who are about to enter college?

Get out of your comfort zone as much as possible!

A Conversation with Kal Penn

You took a break from your acting career to work in the Obama administration. How did that experience impact your perspective on both the entertainment industry and public service?

Your career has included roles that contribute to better representation of minority communities in media. How do you view the progress that has been made in recent years, and what more do you think needs to be done?

You've played diverse roles in both comedies and dramas. How do you choose your projects, and what attracts you to certain characters or storylines?

Is there a particular project you've worked on that holds a special place in your heart, either due to the message it conveyed or the experience you had while working on it?

You've taught courses at universities while pursuing your acting career. How do you manage to balance these two different worlds, and how have they complemented each other?

You've been involved in activism for various causes. Could you share some of your proudest moments or achievements in advocating for social and political change?

What upcoming projects are you excited about, and can you provide any insights into roles or genres you're looking to explore in the future?

From your diverse experiences in acting, politics, and academia, what are some important lessons or insights you've gained that have contributed to your personal growth?