10 Standout South Asian Characters In Modern Film And Television

Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) – Quantico

Priyanka Chopra Jonas made U.S. television history with Quantico, becoming the first Indian actor to lead a primetime American drama. She plays Alex Parrish, an FBI recruit who becomes the primary suspect in a massive terrorist attack, pushing her into a high-stakes race to clear her name. Across three seasons, Alex is portrayed as charismatic, and resourceful, moving far beyond one-dimensional action tropes.

Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) – The Green Knight

Dev Patel took on an unexpected and visually striking role in David Lowery’s The Green Knight, a 2021 re-imagining of the medieval legend. Traditionally portrayed by white actors, Sir Gawain becomes a more introspective and morally complex figure through Patel’s performance. The film follows his grueling journey to honor a challenge from the mysterious Green Knight, turns the classic hero’s quest into a legacy.

Sheriff Hassan (Rahul Kohli) – Midnight Mass

Rahul Kohli brought emotional depth to Sheriff Hassan in Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, a horror series that blends supernatural tension with reflections on faith and belonging. Hassan is a Muslim single father raising his son in a predominantly Catholic island community. As strange events unfold, his storyline remains grounded and human, offering rare representation of a South Asian Muslim family on U.S. television.

Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) – Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed made history with Sound of Metal when he became the first Pakistani and first Muslim actor nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars. In the acclaimed drama, he plays Ruben, a metal drummer and recovering addict whose life unravels after he suddenly loses his hearing. Forced to confront silence and rebuild his future, Ruben joins a community for deaf recovering addicts.

Rhea Kumar (Avantika Vandanapu) - Spin

Riz Ahmed made history with Sound of Metal when he became the first Pakistani and first Muslim actor nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars. In the acclaimed drama, he plays Ruben, a metal drummer and recovering addict whose life unravels after he suddenly loses his hearing. Forced to confront silence and rebuild his future, Ruben joins a community for deaf recovering addicts.

Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) – The Mindy Project

Mindy Kaling created, produced, and starred in The Mindy Project, playing Dr. Mindy Lahiri, a successful OB-GYN trying to juggle dating, career goals, and later motherhood. After rising to prominence as Kelly Kapoor on The Office, Kaling became the first Indian-American woman to headline her own network sitcom. The series ran for six seasons and made a major impact by portraying an Indian-American lead without centering the story exclusively on culture or identity.

Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) – Bridgerton

Season 2 of Bridgerton introduced Kate Sharma, played by British-Indian actress Simone Ashley, marking a major shift in how Regency-era romance is portrayed on mainstream television. Adapted from The Viscount Who Loved Me, Kate’s character was re-imagined with an Indian background, along with her sister Edwina.

Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra) – Blinded By The Light

In Blinded By The Light, Viveik Kalra stars as Javed, a British-Pakistani teen growing up in the late 1980s who feels trapped between his family’s expectations and his own dreams. After discovering Bruce Springsteen’s music, Javed finds the confidence to write poetry and imagine a future beyond his small town. Javed’s character shows how music can connect across backgrounds and how an immigrant child can feel both invisible and limitless at the same time.

Dev Shah (Aziz Ansari) – Master of None

Aziz Ansari followed his breakout success as Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation by creating and starring in Master of None. Through Dev Shah, the show explores identity, dating, career struggles, and immigrant family dynamics with humor and honesty. A standout episode, “Indians on TV,” tackles industry stereotypes and accents expected of South Asian performers.

Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) – Never Have I Ever

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan leads the Netflix coming-of-age series Never Have I Ever as Devi Vishwakumar, an Indian-American Tamil teenager navigating grief, academic pressure, and high-school chaos. Created by Mindy Kaling and loosely inspired by her own upbringing, the show blends classic teen-comedy elements with the complexities of cultural identity and family expectations.