Popular Indo-American Comedian Aziz Ansari Says Every Sitcom in The US Has an Indian Person!
The 28-year-old stand-up comedian, who has appeared in movies like ‘Funny People’, ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and currently stars in the series ‘Parks and Recreation’, says western audiences are quite open to Indian-origin performers.
NEW DELHI – Indo-American comedian Aziz Ansari, who juggles movies, TV shows as well as his stand-up acts, says Hollywood is very receptive of Indian faces and almost every sitcom has an artist from the country.
The 28-year-old stand-up comedian, who has appeared in movies like ‘Funny People’, ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and currently stars in the series ‘Parks and Recreation’, says western audiences are quite open to Indian-origin performers.
“The western audiences are open to Indian artistes. Almost every sitcom in the States has one Indian person on the show. It is really amazing. I see so many Indian actors here,” Ansari said.
And the new television season, which began this week, reflects that with the Indian quota on shows being akin to those of African-American/Black or Hispanic characters in the past. But sadly, Canadian television landscape remain largely lily white.
Ansari, whose parents migrated to the US from Tamil Nadu, grew up in South Carolina. He began his career as a stand-up comedian sometime around 2004 and landed his first movie ‘School For Scoundrels’ in 2006.
The funnyman says his struggle to establish his career has been the same as everybody else and he did not have toface any extra hurdles because of his ethnicity.
“My struggle was the same as anybody else regardless of their ethnicity. Comedy is such an art form where it is hard to deny someone who is really good at it. If you perform well, people will like you.
“I worked my way up just like anyone else and did not face any kind of discrimination,” said Ansari, who will next be seen in the film ’30 Minutes or Less’ alongside Jesse Eisenberg.
Ansari plays a school teacher in the film, whose best friend, played by Eisenberg, is forced by some goons to rob a bank.
