Kal Penn Won Van Wilder Role Against 'White Dude in Brownface'

Kal Penn Had to Audition for a Role in 'Van Wilder' Against a White Dude in Brownface

Kal Penn has had a long acting career (plus a side-quest working in the Obama administration.) He's currently starring in Season 4 of Industry and will star in a comedy called What the F*ck Is My Password? Relatable title, honestly.... Read more...

Kal Penn won Van Wilder role against 'white dude in brownface'

Kal Penn has recalled making it to the final two for his Van Wilder role and going against a white actor in brownface.

Kal Penn Reveals He Won ‘Van Wilder’ Role of Taj Mahal Over a White Actor in Brownface: ‘He Is Not Allowed to Get That Part’

One of Kal Penn’s breakout roles was playing the character Taj Mahal Badalandabad in the 2002 comedy hit “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.” At the end of the audition process, Penn was up against one other actor that ended up inspiring him to work hard to win the part. Penn recounted the story on the Feb. […]

Kal Penn Opens Up About Auditioning For Van Wilder Against 'A White Dude In Brownface'

Kal Penn's career got a definite boost when he appeared in Van Wilder, but he's opened up about what it was like to audition against a guy in brownface.

Kal Penn Recalls Awkward ‘Van Wilder’ Audition Moment

LOS ANGELES, CA- Kal Penn, whose breakout role was playing Taj Mahal Badalandabad in the 2002 comedy hit ‘National Lampoon’s Van Wilder’, recalled an awkward moment from the film’s audition. At the end of the audition process, Penn faced one other actor who inspired him to work harder to win the part. Penn recounted the story on the podcast ‘Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know.’ “I knew at the end, it was like, ‘All right, it’s me and another actor,’” he …