Aasif Mandvi (2014)

Hey Aasif! In your time on The Daily Show you have played several "Senior ____ Correspondent" roles. Which of these has been your favorite to play, and why?

Thanks for doing this Aasif.

My question: The Last Airbender......why? Were you in a dark place in your life? Did Shamalan hold your family hostage? Was it the money? If you needed money, I would have given you some!

Hey Aasif big fan of yours! Do you have a particularly fun or memorable piece that you have done as a correspondent on The Daily Show?

Second of all?

Seriously one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Aasif, you are definitely my favorite correspondent currently on the show. So what's your favorite bit on the daily show that you were in and what's your favorite bit that you were NOT in?

Hey Aasif! Big fan! Throughout your tenure on The Daily Show you have faced a lot of racism and islamophobia, I was wondering if there was any instance of this that particularly stands out to you, maybe something that wasn't even aired on the show?
Thank you for doing this AMA and I can't wait to read your book.

Hi Aasif! First off, thanks for doing this. I'm a big fan of your work, especially as someone who is a visible minority. There really aren't very many South Asian role models out there, so thank you. My questions for you are:

1) Do you have any advice for visible minorities working in White-dominated fields?

2) How do you balance being South Asian without being typecast as being "The South Asian Guy"? Are you selective about the projects you do and how you portray yourself?

3) Which do you prefer - gulab jamun or jalebi?

Thanks!

What was it like working with Tobey Maguire and Ricky Gervais?

What were your favourite and least favourite interviews to do for the Daily Show? And why do those interviews earn that honour?

Last year you had a plum role in The Internship, a film which had a lot of potential to be a sly commentary on technology and today's new youth market. Considering the talent that was involved, and the uniqueness of locale, do you have any awesome anecdotes to share in the making of that film?

How was working on The Last Airbender compared to The Daily Show?

In one word, what is it like being Muslim in America?

Hi Aasif! Glad to see you back on TDS after not being on the show for a while. Can you talk about The Brink? What's it about?

My man.

brofist

If you could change one thing about the American political system, what would you change?

Hello dearest Aasif! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this AMA!

I am a white American and my ex is an Indo-Muslim-Kenyan-American. My ex felt that if I didn’t convert, his family in Kenya would shun him and that he would lose so many connections to where he came from. He doesn’t want to let go of who he is, but neither do I. I imagine it’s hard enough to keep your identity living in one country but identifying with multiple others, but in your opinion (or experience), how can you keep from losing yourself in an interfaith/intercultural relationship?

I've never watched the daily show, as we don't have cable or satellite, but I'd like to ask:

What are you wearing?

Are you leaving the Daily Show to do The Brink or will you be doing both? I can't take everyone leaving :(

I'm looking at your film/tv credits and it looks like you have played a ton of doctors. By now, do you think you are on par with a real doctor? Or perhaps could play one on tv like Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil?

What's your favorite role on television outside The Daily Show and why is it playing doctor on Jericho?

Thanks for the response. Good luck to you in the future, and thanks for not reducing "us" to a stereotype.

Hi Aasif, love your work!

What is the process when you set up an interview? Sometimes I watch the correspondents segments on the show and I can't believe that the people being interviewed could say something so ridiculous.

Hi Aasif! Huge fan! Saw you in Disgraced when it was playing at the Lincoln Center last year. Curious about how you were picked to star in it (you were fantastic in it BTW!) and why aren't in the Broadway adaptation thats running now? And have you seen the Broadway version yet? If so, what do you think? Thanks!

I really enjoyed Today's Special. Do you feel like it has found its audience? Any plans for another screenplay?

From wikipedia on you: "After graduating from the University of South Florida with a degree in Theatre,[8] Mandvi worked as a performer at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.[1]"--- so please tell us some of your crazy USF party stories?

Hey Aasif! Do you think The Daily Show has the same o impact on political discourse in the country that it did 3-4 years ago? Will Stephen stepping down make it even lower? Or am I just being stupid :)

What are your thoughts on how Muslim-Americans are portrayed in Hollywood?

I was particularly a fan of Today's Special, because while your character's Indian identity was part of his character, it wasn't part of an "otherness" I sense in other portrayals of Muslim-Americans in Hollywood. It just so happened that it was his identity and we were seeing his struggles with that lens (similar to how racial identity in The Cosby Show was portrayed).

Or maybe I just liked it cause it reminded me of my family and that I can barely cook naan, idk.

I read your story "The Ledge" about being bullied in a British boarding school. Powerful story. My heart went out to you!
Are you doing any upcoming book signings or appearances?

Are there any comedians out there that you would like to see become Daily Show Corrspondents?

Hi Aasif! Always been a fan. As a fellow brown person, your success makes us all proud. My question is: We're you in the movie ABCD a few years back?

You grew up in England… are you a soccer fan? If so, which team/club do you support?

How do you balance the quirky parts of humor involved in the daily show with your ability to deliver a quality message whilst making us laugh our fucking asses off?

Hello from Pakistan! I read that you are involved with a charity, Relief 4 Pakistan. Have you ever visited here? There is a big Bohra community in Karachi, where I live. And everyone here loves the Daily Show, although I'm not so sure how popular it is amongst the Bohras.

Aasif I was watching Law and Order the other day and noticed a young you as a smut peddler in a video store. Ive heard thats a show that many celebrities would kill to be on. What other show would you really like to play a serious role in ? Also The Anthony Weiner joke you had at Murray Hill was one of the Funniest bits Ive ever seen. Good Luck!!!

Mr. Mandvi, thanks for doing this.

Were you a fan of the Last Airbender series before joining the cast? Also, are you looking forward to any kind of sequel?

I just have to say that The Internship was such an amazing movie. Are there any memorable experiences from it that stood out above the rest?

What was it like working with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Premium Rush?

Hi Aasif! I am a Canadian and wanted to know if you have had a chance to check out Sugar Sami yet?

Also, can you enlighten me on where you think comedy (usually making fun of something or someone) ceases to be hateful or hurtful? And what do you think the line is?

Alright everyone buckle down, Aasif confirmed it, we're in for the long haul.

Hi Aasif,

First, thanks for your great work. My son and I watch TDS every night and I can tell you that we both very much enjoy when you're doing a segment.

So, my question- what has you most excited about "The Brink"?

How often do you guys do crazy shit on the daily show? Like any jousting for doughnuts or pillaging for coffee?

Hey Aasif, I loved your character in Oz. What's your favorite memory from working on that show?

Tell us more about your book of essays! What are some of the themes that you write on? (And I liked you a lot in ABCD. You were the only character that wasn't a whiny baby)

Who are some of your favorite comics right now? Who was your inspiration growing up?

I just read Sakina's Restaurant and I really loved it. Are you working on any other plays?

Any chance Amazon or Netflix will feature your new HBO show?

I haven't watched The Daily Show in a little whilte but I have to ask. What does Craig Kilborn smell like?

How did you go about becoming an actor and getting the gig on the Daley Show, and what advice would you give someone who wants to follow a similar path? Thanks!

Thanks and keep up the hilarious work. Brilliant stuff you do.

Hey Aasif, USF alum here. Can you share any fond memories you have while matriculating in Tampa?

Also, big fan of Today's Special. Have you seen Outsourced? Kind of reminds me of that. You should check it out if you haven't seen it yet.

edit: Outsourced the movie, not the tv show.

Hello Aasif
Thanks for ama session!

What s the best advice u ve ever been given in ur career? By who?

What s ur most incredible experience of life?

What do u do in ur free time if u have any?

Thanks

Desis are obsessed with bodily functions. And brunch. I'll definitely look up the book. Thanks!