Kumail Nanjiani has established an impressive career both in front of and behind the camera, and these ten TV shows and movies stand out as his best. Nanjiani might now be known for appearing in both the MCU and Star Wars, but he had humble beginnings. Like many of the best actors and comedians out there, Nanjiani worked tirelessly to get his career off the ground. He established himself first as a stand-up comedian, even appearing on shows like The Colbert Report and performing in the prestigious Just for Laughs comedy festival. However, he transitioned into acting as well, creating a surprisingly varied portfolio both on camera and behind the scenes.

From starring in action movies to guest roles in beloved comedy series, Nanjiani’s career has exploded after the final season of Silicon Valley. He’s proven himself capable of executing drama and action just as well as he does comedy. What’s more, Nanjiani built his career leaning into his unique perspective as a Pakistani American, and many of his best projects champion the immigrant experience. Looking at his immense catalog, these ten TV shows and movies stand out amongst the rest as the best that the Hollywood multi-hyphenate has to offer.

10

Taskmaster UK (2026)

Himself

Taskmaster is one of the funniest game shows in the UK. It’s pure chaos and nonsense in the best way possible, making it the perfect place for comedians to show off their sense of humor. Kumail Nanjiani and his wife became fans of the show in 2018, then he joined the cast of Taskmaster season 21, becoming one of the first cast members not based in the UK to join.

Unsurprisingly, his time on the show included laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of banter with fellow contestants. He did a great job with the tasks at hand, and he finished in 3rd place. Many feel he was robbed of first place. Despite not taking home the crown, Nanjiani’s performance on Taskmaster easily ranks as one of his best TV appearances.

9

Eternals (2021)

Kingo

Sophie Mutevelian / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / © Marvel Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

Even though Eternals was poorly rated overall, it easily ranks as one of Kumail Nanjiani’s best performances. He brings welcome humor and charm to the solemn sweep of Chloé Zhao’s superhero epic Eternals. Nanjiani’s role as Kingo in the Eternals cast brought some much-needed levity, as he is one of the few Eternals to take advantage of immortality by embracing stardom, reinventing himself every generation as a new Bollywood star.

That light-hearted energy gives the film texture and provides relief from its weightier themes. Nanjiani captures Kingo’s witty confidence and panache, making him one of the more memorable Eternals despite limited screen time among a large ensemble cast. Nanjiani also reprised the role in What If…? season 3, voicing Kingo in the standout episode “What If… Agatha Went To Hollywood?”

8

Poker Face (2025)

“Gator Joe” Pilson

Peacock’s modern-day homage to Columbo is designed to showcase its rotating celebrity guest stars, and Nanjiani makes the most of his turn as “Gator Joe” in Poker Face season 2, episode 4, “The Taste of Human Blood.” Gator Joe is a wildly committed Florida wildlife cop with an unhealthy fondness for gators, fan gear, and chaotic problem-solving.

The episode pushes into a goofier register than most Poker Face mysteries, showing off the actor’s comedic timing and edge. Nanjiani leans all the way in as the most Floridian man committing the most Floridian crime imaginable. He plays Joe’s pride and delusion straight, which only makes it funnier. It’s the kind of memorable, personality-forward turn that feels like a soft audition for Rian Johnson’s next Knives Out ensemble.

7

Only Murders In The Building (2024)

Rudy “Christmas Guy” Thurber

Image via Hulu

Nanjiani pops in as Rudy, one of the Westies in Only Murders in the Building season 4, the renters occupying the west wing of the Arconia. Rudy initially presents as a Christmas obsessive, with decorations, themed outfits, and a jolly persona. The joke lands later when he confesses he actually hates Christmas and only uses the festive aesthetic as branding for his bodybuilding videos. It’s a clever bit of lampshading around the undeniably toned physique Nanjiani built for Eternals.

What makes the cameo work is how well he plays off different personalities, whether it’s Mabel, Eva Longoria, or the other Westies like Richard Kind’s eyepatch-wearing Vince Fish. Only Murders reinvents itself every season, and Nanjiani’s brief appearance adds texture and silliness.

6

The Lovebirds (2020)

Jibran

In The Lovebirds, Nanjiani stars as Jibran, one half of a couple on the brink of breaking up who gets pulled into a chaotic crime caper. The movie hinges on the chemistry between Nanjiani and Issa Rae, which is extremely strong from start to finish. Nanjiani delivers a sharp, fast-talking performance full of anxious energy and deadpan reactions, opposite Rae’s witty opinionated side.

Jibran’s arc is simple but relatable. He’s a guy who overthinks everything, assumes the worst, and hides vulnerability beneath sarcasm. When he’s forced into increasingly ridiculous situations, Nanjiani plays the panic for laughs without losing the film’s emotional thread. As The Lovebirds‘ ScreenRant review explains, the movie doesn’t reinvent the action-comedy formula, but Jibran is a great showcase for Nanjiani as a romantic lead who can juggle banter, chemistry, and physical comedy at once.

5

Stuber (2019)

Stu Prasad

Nanjiani plays Stu, quite the opposite of an action hero, in Stuber. Stu is a mild-mannered retail employee and part-time rideshare driver who gets strong-armed into chauffeuring a temporarily vision-impaired detective (Dave Bautista) around Los Angeles during a violent manhunt. Stu is anxious, polite, conflict-avoidant, and, more than anything else, obsessed with maintaining his five-star rating.

Nanjiani milks that contrast for all its worth, leaning into Stu’s panic, frustration, and deadpan one-liners as he’s dragged deeper into chaos. Stuber is a breezy mid-tier buddy action comedy, but Nanjiani’s performance is its best asset, especially his odd-couple chemistry with Bautista. Stu’s arc of learning to stand up for himself instead of being the world’s punching bag gives Stuber just enough emotional weight. Nanjiani handles both the jokes and the growth with ease.

4

Little America (2020-2022)

Developed By & Executive Producer

Little America is an Apple TV anthology series spotlighting the funny, romantic, heartbreaking, and unexpected lives of immigrants across the United States. Based on true stories originally published by Epic Magazine, the series was developed and produced by Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, and Lee Eisenberg, with Nanjiani behind the camera rather than in front of it.

The project carries personal weight for Nanjiani. As a first-generation Pakistani American who immigrated to the United States as a teenager, Nanjiani has spoken about navigating cultural expectations and identity, themes that echo across the series. Instead of preaching, Little America finds power in small, human stories, each episode shifting to a different perspective and tone. The result is a quiet but resonant show with near-universal critical acclaim and a clear passion behind it.

3

Welcome To Chippendales (2022-2023)

Somen “Steve” Banerjee

Nanjiani stars in Welcome to Chippendales as Somen “Steve” Banerjee, the real-life founder of Chippendales and the architect of its meteoric rise and eventual downfall. It’s a wild true story involving ambition, insecurity, racism, and even murder-for-hire, and Nanjiani is one of the few actors who can thread that needle. He plays Steve as deeply driven yet painfully isolated, a man whose hunger for success curdles into paranoia. The show was praised for its stylish period detail and sharp character focus, but Nanjiani’s performance is the axis around which everything spins.

It’s a striking dramatic turn for an actor best known for comedy, and awards voting bodies took notice. Nanjiani earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, cementing Welcome to Chippendales as a major milestone in his career.

2

Silicon Valley (2014-2019)

Dinesh

Nanjiani became a household name when he played Dinesh in HBO’s Silicon Valley, a razor-sharp satire of the tech industry and startup culture. There are some harsh realities about rewatching Silicon Valley, and Dinesh fits programmer stereotypes. However, Nanjiani makes him feel weirdly specific and human. Dinesh is selfish, competitive, and perpetually jealous, yet still sympathetic enough that you root for him. He’s probably the most consistently likable character across the show.

His love-hate pseudo-friendship with Martin Starr’s Gilfoyle is one of the funniest dynamics on television, built on insults, pettiness, and genuine professional respect. Over the run of Silicon Valley, Nanjiani carved out a comedy lane that blended deadpan reactions with escalating panic, eventually turning Dinesh into one of the most quotable characters in a cast full of scene-stealers.

1

The Big Sick (2017)

Himself

The Big Sick, which was inspired by a true story, is one of the best modern romcoms. Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, co-wrote it, drawing from a health scare and cultural differences they navigated early in their relationship. On screen, Nanjiani plays a version of himself who is raw, funny, and charming, yet lazy and noncommittal; however, Kumail grows into responsibility. The actor’s performance balances humor and vulnerability, giving the story emotional depth without losing its comedic edge.

The film was widely praised, winning an Independent Spirit Award and the Festival Favorite award at South by Southwest. The screenplay earned Nanjiani and Gordon an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, cementing The Big Sick as a standout achievement in both Kumail Nanjiani’s career and contemporary romantic comedy.

Birthdate

May 2, 1978

Birthplace

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Height

5 feet 8 inches