• NRI actor Kal Penn on Obama’s arts panel

  • Washington, Nov 19, 2013: President Barack Obama has nominated popular Indian-American actor Kal Penn of “The Namesake” fame to his Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

    Kal Penn, joins other well-known members such as Secretary of State John Kerry’s wife Teresa Heinz; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour; and actresses Kerry Washington and Sarah Jessica Parker.

    “These fine public servants bring both a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles,” said Obama while announcing Penn’s appointment with six others.......Read

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  • Kal Penn called his new job at the White House "the greatest reward."
    • 'We are pleased to have Kalpen join the great team in the Office of Public Engagement," a White House spokesperson said in a statement. "Given his background and qualifications, the arts and AAPI communities will have a strong partner in the White House."

• Kal Penn will now be Kalpen Modi at the White House-- Kal Penn, Indian American star of Mira Nair's "The Namesake" and a long time supporter of President Barack Obama, has started his new job as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities.......Read

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Kal Penn ( actual name Kalpen Modi)) was born on April 23, 1977 in Montclair, New Jersey of Gujarati NRI parents. He became popular for his starring role in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Where's the Party, Yaar? In 1995, he moved to Los Angeles and worked on several films, including two American Desi-2001 and 2003, Where's The Party Yaar?. .....Read More

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Filmography:

• 2008
  • Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008)
• 2007
  • The Namesake
  • Epic Movie
    
• 2006
  • National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj - Starring opposite Ryan Reynolds. A senior in his seventh year at Coolidge College, Van Wilder (Reynolds) loves the cushy life of a student so much that he doesn't want to leave. And why should he? He's the biggest man on campus, all the girls want him and all the guys want to be him.
  • The Namesake Gogol Ganguli completed
  • Superman Returns Stanford - Penn played one of Lex Luthor's Henchmen - While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him.
  • Bachelor Party Vegas
  • Man About Town
• 2005
  • Sueño
  • A Lot Like Love -A romantic comedy about a couple of friends who fight off their romantic attraction only to be thrown together.
  • Son of the Mask -In the sequel to the 1994 hit, the Mask of Loki finds its way into the hands of aspiring cartoonist Tim Avery’s (Jamie Kennedy) infant son. As the power of the Mask transforms him, the unthinkable becomes not only possible, but mind-bogglingly real.
  • Dancing in Twilight
• 2004
  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
  • Ball & Chain
• 2003
  • Love Don't Cost a Thing, Kenneth Warman
  • American Made
  • Malibu's Most Wanted
  • Where's the Party Yaar?
• 2002
  • National Lampoon's Van Wilder
  • Hector
• 2001 American Desi
• 1999 Freshmen
• 1998 Express: Aisle to Glory