Kal Penn says Saath Nibhaana Saathiya Had A 'Ridiculous' Plot Line: 'Super Addictive'
Kal Penn says Saath Nibhaana Saathiya helped him learn Hindi and reveals he wants to appear on both Delhi Crime and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
Before Saath Nibhaana Saathiya became a viral internet sensation thanks to the now-iconic 'Rasode mein kaun tha?" remix, many people outside of Indian TV audiences had barely heard of it. But for Kal Penn, the show played a much more personal role – it was actually one of his first Hindi tutors.
During a candid chat at Express Adda, hosted by The Indian Express Group, the Harold & Kumar star opened up about his relationship with Indian shows, his love for desi TV dramas, and the surprising ways they've shaped his understanding of the language.
Kal, who is fluent in English and Gujarati, admitted that Hindi isn't exactly his strongest suit – but he found an unexpected teacher in the drama-heavy, twist-filled world of Indian soaps.
'This is hard because Hindi is not my first language. It is English and then Gujarati. But one of the ways that I started trying to learn Hindi was through episodes of Saath Nibhana Saathiya," he said. 'Because the level of Hindi is accessible to somebody who is learning Hindi. They have super addictive, ridiculous plot lines. So I will go with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi."
The actor-comedian also had high praise for the sheer variety in Indian entertainment, calling out how different shows represent a wide range of voices and styles. He's clearly a fan of both light-hearted comedies and gritty crime dramas.
'I got to know Asit Modi a couple of years ago and I did a set visit to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and I was geeking out over this – it is like one of the most watched shows on the planet. It is not everybody's palate, and very different from Delhi Crime. But, you look at it what India is turning out and the spectrum of voices and content… I be like, 'this is so cool.' I want to be on both shows. I would love to do episodes of Delhi Crime."
Asked to pick between Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Kal didn't hesitate to bring it back to where it all started – with the dramatic, meme-friendly world of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.
Kal Penn, born Kalpen Suresh Modi, is best known for his roles in House, Harold & Kumar, and a guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother. Beyond acting, he's also an author and a former White House staffer during Barack Obama's presidency.
Meanwhile, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, the show that helped Kal get a grip on Hindi, ran for over 2,100 episodes between 2010 and 2017 – becoming one of the longest-running TV dramas in Indian history.
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First Published:
August 03, 2025, 07:33 IST
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