Kumail Nanjiani: Kumail Nanjiani is back on stage: Inside his stand-up return, ‘Fallout’ Season 2 and big directing plans

After rising to fame in Hollywood with hits such as Silicon Valley and The Big Sickfirst as an actor, then as a filmmaker, Kumail Nanjiani has come complete circle in his profession. For the first time in a decade, he is making a comeback to his stand-up roots with his theater tour promoting Night Thoughts, his second comedy special and initial one for Hulu. In the special, he explores quirky, anxious late-night thoughts, his significant physical transformation, the disease and passing of his cat Bagel, and his experiences going through major online discourse.

Establishing Stand-Up Credibility

At the core of Nanjiani’s creative focus which recently received him his initial Golden Globe nomination was proving to viewers that he is a bona fide stand-up, rather than an artist dabbling in comedy.
“This is true, as someone who began his career on Chicago’s alt comedy scene in the early 2000s before making his way to New York and Los Angeles, and helping to establish Meltdown Comics as an iconic destination for stand-up,” Nanjiani described.

Return to the Stage

The move to return to the stage was prompted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023, which paused several of his screen projects. Looking forward, Nanjiani is not certain on how often he will concentrate on stand-up given his packed schedule.

Upcoming Projects and Acting Commitments

With his production company Winter Coat, established last year, he is developing a slate of projects that includes Howl, a genre feature he intends to direct next year, making his feature directorial launch. He remains to pursue acting, with forthcoming appearances in Fallout Season 2 and James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay.
In a talk with Deadline at the All Things Comedy podcast studio, Nanjiani expressed on returning to stand-up following years of concentration on screen work, sharing insights into how the experience reconnects him to his real comedic passion.

FAQs:

Q1. Who is Kumail Nanjiani?
Kumail Nanjiani is an actor, comedian, and writer, recognized for Silicon Valley and The Big Sick. He recently returned to stand-up comedy with his Hulu special Night Thoughts.

Q2. What are Night Thoughts?
Night Thoughts is Nanjiani’s second comedy special and initial one for Hulu. It showcases personal stories, humorous reflections, and his experiences with fame and life transitions.