We need more South Asian people telling their stories, says Kumail Nanjiani

"How does it feel to be the most famous person in Pakistan?"

Stand-up comedian and The Big Sick writer/actor Kumail Nanjiani was thrown this question by Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot in Variety's latest instalment of Actors on Actors, a video series that features a conversation between movie stars about their artistic journeys.

Kumail was quick to correct her misconception, pointing out that filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is arguably the more known Pakistani... and that she was his classmate in high school!

"So I was feeling really good that I might be the most famous Pakistani person in America or the most successful. But there's another person from my class, from my high school in Pakistan who's won two Oscars. [Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy] made two short documentaries and won two Oscars. So I'm like, most famous person from Pakistan? I'm not the most famous person from my year in high school!"

He went on to say that his 'popularity' also signifies the lack of South Asian representation in mainstream pop culture.

"It's strange to be in a position where there aren't that many South Asian people who are represented in pop culture. So I do feel pressure to represent a group of people that I don't feel qualified to represent," shares Kumail.

"Ultimately, I can only tell my story. I can't really tell the story of everybody from that part of the world. Because everybody has a different story."

He makes the case for an increase in South Asian representation: "We need more South Asian people telling their stories. We need more South Asian women telling their stories. I would love to see more South Asian gay people telling their stories. And I think that's the only way you can represent the whole breadth of experiences."

He also shared his wife Emily Gordon's desire to have a website called Muslims Having Fun: "...and it’s just pictures of Muslim people eating popsicles or riding roller coasters. You don’t see that so much."

Watch the full Actors On Actors episode here.