When the world was asking, “Rasode mein kaun tha?”, turns out, Kal Penn had already done his homework. The Hollywood actor of Indian origin recently turned heads with his hilarious and heartfelt confession that it wasn’t textbooks or tuition classes that taught him Hindi, it was none other than the daily soap Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.
Appearing as a guest on Express Adda, hosted by The Indian Express Group, Kal shared surprising insights into his love for Indian TV and how it shaped his language-learning journey.
Kal Penn’s Unexpected Hindi Journey
Kal Penn, born Kalpen Suresh Modi, is widely known for his roles in Harold & Kumar, House, and How I Met Your Mother. But in a completely desi twist, he revealed that learning Hindi wasn’t something he took lightly though he definitely took the filmy route.
“One of the ways that I started trying to learn Hindi was through episodes of Saath Nibhana Saathiya,” Kal admitted, giving a big nod to the soap that introduced us all to ‘Rasoda logic’. He said the show’s language was “accessible to somebody who is learning Hindi” and the “addictive, ridiculous plotlines” kept him coming back for more.
So, while most of us were chuckling at Gopi Bahu scrubbing laptops, Kal was treating it like Rosetta Stone with extra drama.
Kyunki vs. TMKOC?
When asked to choose between the rebooted Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and the eternal crowd-pleaser Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), Kal found himself in a classic saas-bahu vs. society comedy dilemma.
“This is hard because Hindi is not my first language. It’s English and then Gujarati.” But nostalgia won, and Kal eventually sided with the sanskari cult classic: “I’ll go with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.” The reasoning? Again, simplicity and addictiveness.
Kal Penn Wants to Join Delhi Crime and TMKOC Casts
Don’t be surprised if you soon spot Kal in Gokuldham Society or solving crimes on the streets of Delhi because he’s manifesting that dream out loud.
“I got to know Asit Modi a couple of years ago and did a set visit to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. I was geeking out, it’s one of the most watched shows on the planet!” Kal revealed, sounding like a true fanboy.
He added, “It’s not everybody’s palate, and very different from Delhi Crime. But when you look at what India is turning out… I be like, ‘this is so cool.’ I want to be on both shows.”
Yes, folks, the man wants a foot in both worlds, the comedy chaos of TMKOC and the gritty realness of Delhi Crime.
A Desi at Heart: Kal Penn’s Full-Circle Connection With Indian TV
Kal’s affection for Indian TV isn’t a gimmick, it’s rooted in identity and curiosity. Though he made a name for himself in Hollywood, his roots pull him right back to the desi screens that shaped his early understanding of language, culture, and family chaos.
