Kumail Nanjiani visits “The Daily Show” to discuss his new movie and racial stereotypes
July 11, 2017 Sam Kumail Nanjiani, Television, The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, Video
Last night, comedian and Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani stopped by The Daily Show to talk about his new movie, The Big Sick, and to talk accents with host Trevor Noah.
“What’s been really exciting for me is watching how you don’t always play the role that many people would want your accent to play,” Noah told his guest, who was born in Pakistan. Nanjiani goes on to talk about how, earlier in his career, he auditioned for his share of stereotyped roles — cab drivers, convenience store employees – which helps him appreciate the freedom he has to work on his own projects now.
The stand-up wrote the script for semi-autobiographical The Big Sick with his wife, Emily V. Gordon (who’s played in the film by actress Zoe Kazan); the story follows the early days of their relationship, when Nanjiani was a struggling comic back in Chicago and Gordon was struck with a mysterious illness that brought their two very different families together.
The Big Sick is in theaters now.
