Causing the crowd to erupt in laughter on numerous occasions, Kal Penn was at ease while on stage during the most recent installment of the “What Matters to U” speaker series.
“One of my favorite things about comedy is that, in this polarized world, it is one of the few things that unify people by making them laugh together,” said Penn.
His sentiment was reflected as he addressed University of Miami students on Thursday evening at the Donna E. Shalala Student Center and provided anecdotal insight on career hurdles and perseverance.
Known for his role as Kumar in the series of comedy films “Harold and Kumar” and as Lawrence Kutner on the Emmy award-winning TV show “House,” Penn candidly shared a less than glamorous beginning of his career in film. In an industry riddled with bigotry and discrimination, Penn’s early job opportunities were constrained by his identity as an Indian American.
While studying film at the University of California, Los Angeles, he was told that people who look like him do not appear “worthwhile” to agents; so, Penn concluded that his talent may be overshadowed by his background. “I realized the barrier to entry in Hollywood was quite high for me,” he said.
Sharing the hardship of the initial pressure of performing insensitive, stereotypical roles, Penn also stressed how vital it remains for Indian Americans to be seen on screen.
“The reality is you have to start somewhere. Growing up, I rarely saw people that looked like me who were fully fleshed [out] characters. When you don’t see people like you, you can feel as though your options are limited,” said Penn.
Geethika Kataru, who served as the student moderator for the conversation, shared the role Penn played in representing Indian Americans for her while echoing his sentiments.
“As a child, there was a lack of diverse Indian representation. For me, Kal Penn was an actor that broke through the industry and gave people a new perspective of who an Indian person could be. It is refreshing to host someone who represents the wide range of possibilities of Indian Americans,” said Kataru.
Later in his career, Penn gained opportunities to perform roles that existed outside of Hollywood bias. Referencing a positive change in the industry, he remained excited for the diversity of characters emerging today.
Asked about his pivot to politics, Penn shared how his position in the Obama administration was not a calculated decision but one motivated by newfound confidence in the then-senator’s policies. Taking a two-year sabbatical from acting in 2009 to serve as president’s liaison to young Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, Penn discussed how meaningful his role in shaping policy remains to him.
“Being a small part of policies that don’t make it to mainstream media, while helping people who needed it, was one of the most reassuring aspects of my role,” he pointed out.
He shared his many contributions to policy, notably the expansion of Pell Grants and the creation of a comprehensive climate change bill. Penn also reflected on how career success is not defined by its obstacles and can exist outside of one dimension.
Briana Benjamin, a junior studying political science, shared how Penn’s story impacted her perspective on career.
“It was inspiring hearing how, despite the obstacles faced, he still pursued his passion for acting. His move to his position in the White House shows that someone’s career can be multifaceted,” she said.
