Pakistani-American comedian Kumail Nanjiani may be an Oscar-nominated artist but despite all his accomplishments he often gets mistaken for other “brown actors”.
Nanjiani took to Twitter to share that people still mix him up with other South Asian-American actors.
A day may come when I am not mistaken for another brown actor. But it is not this day.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 8, 2018
“A day may come when I am not mistaken for another brown actor. But it is not this day,” he wrote without delving into details regarding what prompted the tweet or who he was mixed up with.
However, it appears Nanjiani isn’t the only one who faces the issue. Other brown stars commented on his tweet sharing their own experiences of how they’re mistaken for Nanjiani.
Every time I get recognized for you I think “man I wish it were true:)”
— Kunal Nayyar (@kunalnayyar) March 8, 2018
Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory revealed that he takes being mistaken for Nanjiani as a compliment. “Every time I get recognised for you I think “man I wish it were true :),” he said.
Kal Penn, who appears in the ABC series Designated Survivor, also responded to the tweet saying he recently took credit for both Nanjiani and Nayyar’s accolades.
I have taken credit for both of your accolades in the last 2 weeks so I guess I owe you each a photo, half a beer, and an awkward extended hug
— Kal Penn (@kalpenn) March 8, 2018
Actress and social activist Sarah Silverman then joined the actors’ comments, saying: “Why do you have three accounts?”
The time a fan of MY podcast with Kamau, drew fan art & thought you & me were the same person. pic.twitter.com/d0rreSQFyf
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) March 9, 2018
Further, comedian Hari Kondabolu chimed in to point out that even die-hard fans can’t differentiate between South Asian-American stars as he shared an image of fan art, which featured Nanjiani instead of him.
I was congratulated on The Big Sick after a show & I went with it
— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) March 9, 2018
Turns out, people can’t even distinguish South-Asian American stars by gender as comedian Aparna Nancherla revealed she was congratulated on The Big Sick, which is written by and features Nanjiani.
It is noteworthy that Nanjiani earlier this month had said nobody from Hollywood can find Pakistan on the map.
“And I am from Pakistan and Iowa, two places that nobody from Hollywood can find on the map,” he said while presenting the Oscar for production design at the 2018 Academy Awards along with actress Lupita Nyong’o.
