Most Successful Indian American Actors In Hollywood Till 2022

We've all heard of Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, who have moved to Hollywood. But we're willing to bet you've never heard of these American performers who are either fully or partially Indian.

These brilliant and well-known Indian-American celebrities have made significant contributions to the Hollywood entertainment business.

1. Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is a comedian, writer, and producer in addition to being an actor on the hit NBC TV show "The Office." Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Indian parents. Her mother gave her the nickname Mindy after watching the 1970s sitcom "Mork & Mindy" while pregnant with Kaling.

2. Freida Pinto

Although it has been eleven years since Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire,' starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the performers have continued to build a name for themselves in Hollywood. Freida has since worked in a number of films, including 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' and she continues to be in the spotlight for her amazing red carpet appearances at major international events.

3. Suraj Sharma

Suraj Sharma, a graduate of Delhi University's St. Stephens College, rose to prominence after being cast in the Oscar-winning film 'Life of Pi,' with Irrfan Khan and Tabu, who represented his parents on screen. While the film won four Academy Awards, this Delhi native was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Rising Star. While director Ang Lee was admiring Suraj's expressive and innocent-looking Pi, the young Indian went to Hollywood to create a name for himself in the film 'Million Dollar Arm,' in which he played the pivotal part of Rinku Singh. He also played Aayan Ibrahim in the popular TV series 'Homeland,' and it won't be surprising if he's ranked among the top Hollywood actors at some point.

4. Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi is a multi-talented lady who has worked as an author, television personality, model, and actor. Lakshmi was born in India to Indian parents, and she spent her childhood travelling between India and New York. Salman Rushdie, a novelist, was her husband.

5. Kal Penn

Kal Penn was born Kalpen Suresh Modi and is best known for his roles in the Harold and Kumar films and the FOX television show "House." Kal Penn has worked with the Obama administration at the White House Office of Public Engagement in addition to being an actor and producer. Penn was born in the state of New Jersey to Gujarati immigrants from India.

6. Sendhil Ramamurthy

Sendhil Ramamurthy is a well-known face on international television, best known for his role as geneticist Mohinder Suresh in the famous television series "Heroes." The tall, dark, and gorgeous Sendhil, who was born and raised in the United States, is Kannadiga by birth and has a huge name thanks to his popular character Mohinder, who eventually turns negative in the film 'Heroes.' He's also well-known for his portrayal as Wilcox in the TV show 'Covert Affairs.'