![]() It was perhaps the first American movie to feature a pair of protagonists who were of neither European, African or Native American descent. ![]() In collaboration with his good friend John Cho, Modi helped develop a movie where two Asians fight against common stereotypes in an attempt to be portrayed as regular Americans. However, he soon found his signature role as an ordinary American wrapped up in events beyond his control. However, he was largely cast in roles that relied on his Asian heritage as part of the story line (most notably as "Taj" in Van Wilder and Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj). He still prefers to be addressed by his birth name. Instead, to his dismay, his callbacks rose 50%. It was at this time he changed his stage name to "Kal Penn", largely to disprove to his friends that his Indian surname was affecting his ability to obtain acting work. His film career started in 1988 with Express: Aisle to Glory. He then attended university at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with a double major in film and sociology. He then attended Howell High School's Academy for The Fine and Performing Arts for three years, finishing his senior year at Freehold Township High School, being active in the theatre program at both schools. He attended middle school at the Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, New Jersey and played baritone saxophone in the school band. ![]() Like most people of Hindu heritage, Modi doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, and is a strict vegetarian. His family originally came from the Gujarat, India and his grandparents were involved with the Indian independence movement. Modi's father was an engineer and his mother was a fragrance evaluator at a perfume company. ![]()
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