The Anatomy of THE NAMESAKE - Casting Kal Penn

Join Mira Nair in a special closed lecture at Columbia University about THE NAMESAKE.

Casting Kal Penn:

Mira Nair shares the story of how Kal Penn was eager to try out for his role, even though it had already been cast.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• The
• Namesake
• Mira
• Nair
• Kal
• Penn
• Interview
• Trailer

[tapanpatel88]

What are you talking about? Kal Penn's acting in all of his movies was fantastic!

[katching]

just finished watching this movie, very heartfelt.

[lacylabrecquelm]

th1s m0vie is now watchable g @ MOOV ZON . COM Google the above link

[drewlsy]

...seems the only noble creative profession out there is authorship or poetry; neither require a team-effort to create or produce. However, when it comes to marketing your work, that's a different story, but now you have the internet so this is even streamlined. Thanks and sorry to hear about the messy politics involved with the production side of things. You're right about MIra's work. Faith in her "voice", her vision, should always be looked at collectively, where the parts make up the whole.

[HunterMann]

I work on the camera crew side in the film industry and have gotten bumped from work because a producer preferred to hire his cousin or some cute chick, neither of whom have 5% as much experience as me. It's not fair. However, I do trust Mira Nair's judgement and her films always move me. You should see this film and then decide if the lead actor seems perfect for the role or not. The casting process often has surprise decisions at the last minute. Enjoy the film!

[Aloiafi939]

Kal penn is super sexy !!! god there's just something about him that makes him so hot 2 me! = )

[palaohora]

All reviwes i read about his acting told wonderful things about it, read the rotten tomatoes.

[drewlsy]

There's this movie called American Chai (2002) which was about a similar subject in a less dramatic sense, but seminal in it's overall concept. There were some fantastic Indian American actors in this film including a great directorial debut effort. I'm wondering if anyone in this camp was privy of auditions for the Namesake??

[drewlsy]

The director allowed him to come to NY to audition based on this letter which implies that the director bumped someone out to allow Penn to be in the film. Does anyone know who was initially cast to star in it?

You know, if the politics of winning this role was as indicated, I feel sorry for whoever was asked to relinquish this role is all. I'm not Indian-American btw, and I haven't seen the film yet.

[quemacha]

He's been in several other movies, but not as well known as H&K. He's also a regular cast member of "House." Check out his name on the IMDB website for his full resumé. And I thought his acting was great in Namesake.