30 Rock actor Maulik Pancholy tells a group of students how, as an undergrad, he shied away from his cultural heritage. But all that changed when he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. Overnight, the one thing he had spent four years distancing himself from—his South Asian identity—became “the only thing that people saw in [him].” This is a heartfelt and very funny clip that shows off the deeply perceptive side of one of Hollywood’s best young comic actors. Maulik Pancholy delivers the buzz of celebrity and the nourishment of good, honest conversation. He talks candidly about the peculiar arc of his career: from the early days playing broad stereotypes to his current success, working alongside Tina Fey and others. What is it like trying to break through while staying true to yourself and to your heritage?

Maulik Pancholy stars on 30 Rock and Weeds and has appeared on various shows, including Law and Order and the Sopranos. Occasionally, he also gives keynotes at universities. Using his own career, he shows audiences just how far Hollywood has come in embracing diverse characters and story lines. How much has changed since his early days, when he was asked, constantly, to “do the accent.” And what has caused this positive shift in the entertainment industry?

Maulik Pancholy Talks About His Cultural Heritage & Hollywood Diversity

More about Maulik Pancholy
Maulik Pancholy is a classically trained actor with an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He has carved out a career that spans the stage, the small screen and the big screen. He invests whatever project he’s working on — from popcorn movies like Hitch to plays like Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom — with a dignified charm. He has a great sense, too, for the subtle physical aspects of comedy. These traits haven’t gone unnoticed: he has received a Screen Actors Guild award for 30 Rock, along with two additional SAG nominations, one each for 30 Rock and Weeds. He played the lead role in India Awakening, at the Samuel Beckett Theater, for which The New York Times praised his “charismatic…sexy and funny” performance. He also voices the character Baljeet on the top-rated Disney show, Phineas and Ferb. His other credits include guest spots on Law and Order: Criminal Intent and The Sopranos. On 30 Rock, he plays Jonathan, Alec Baldwin’s scene-stealing personal assistant.