Ever since his star turn in low-budget hit Harold & Kumar Go To Whitecastle, Kal Penn has turnved into one of the best-known Asian-American faces in Hollywood. Hollywood's Desi No 1
Born in New Jersey as Kalpen Modi, the actor has featured in American Desi and National Lampoon's Van Wilder.
Kal also had an appearance in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, and he next stars in Mira Nair's adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake [Images] with Tabu [Images] and Irrfan Khan [Images]. The film premieres in New York on November 1, but will release only in March.
Meet the desi Superman villain
Now, the actor has signed on as a villain with parts in recurring episodes of the television thriller 24, a superhit show starring Keifer Sutherland. Penn's work is in the upcoming 6th season of the show, which will air in January.
Looking at his upcoming films like Harold & Kumar Go To Amsterdam, that is one colourful CV. Go, Kumar!
Photograph: Getty Images