Latest news with #HaroldandKumar
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kal Penn, actor and activist, is guest at Express Adda today
Kal Penn wears many hats — actor, author, TV show host, producer and former White House staffer. Most recently, he has been making headlines for reprising the role of Kumar in the upcoming fourth installment in the Harold and Kumar franchise and for the fact that his name for the role of Gogol in Mira Nair's adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake (2006) was suggested by New York City's mayoral candidate and Nair's son Zohran Mamdani. Penn will be the guest at Express Adda in Mumbai on Friday. He will be in conversation with Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group. Penn began his acting career in 1998 with Express: Aisle to Glory, but his breakthrough role came only six years later with Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Since then, he has been part of close to 100 productions — films, TV shows and as a host — through which he has consistently made a case for, and broken stereotypes about, South Asian representation in Hollywood. Noteworthy parts include those in House (2004) where he plays Dr Lawrence Kutner, whose identity went beyond his ethnicity, and in Designated Survivor (2016), where he plays the White House Press Secretary Seth Wright. He also starred in the immigration sit-com Sunnyside (2019) which he co-created, and Clarice (2021), the sequel to the 1991 classic thriller The Silence of the Lambs. Interestingly, for Designated Survivor, he had first-hand experience to borrow from. After advocating for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2007-2008, he went on to become the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. As the President's Liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the Arts community, he worked on issues such as the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', the Affordable Care Act, Pell Grants, arts and culture programmes, the DREAM Act and rapid response to the BP Oil Spill and earthquake in Haiti. As someone who has always had one foot in acting and the other in activism — he has a double major in films and sociology from UCLA — Penn left the White House in 2010 to film A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas. He returned later that year as the national co-chair for the Obama/ Biden re-election campaign in 2012 and served on the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, focusing on arts education and cultural diplomacy. During his second stint at the White House, where he served for nearly seven years, he campaigned for both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, finally resigning in 2017. He also supported 2024 Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. In 2021, Penn authored his memoir, You Can't Be Serious, where among other things, he introduced his long-time partner Josh and wrote about his sexuality. The Express Adda is a series of informal interactions organised by The Indian Express Group and features those at the centre of change. Previous guests at the Adda include Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, philanthropist Bill Gates and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Socialist Zohran Mamdani wins NY mayoral primary promising frozen rents
Left wing candidate Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning upset to win the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City, in a major blow to the establishment An underdog socialist politician has clinched a surprise victory in the Democratic primary race for Mayor of New York City, despite facing off against the well-funded political titan and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. On a sweltering election day in America's largest city, Democratic voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani, with early tallies giving him an eight-point lead in first-round voting. He has been serving as a New York Assembly member since 2021 and is a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America. While his main rival offered more of the same, Mamdani proposed a radical platform of free buses, rent freezes and municipal food stores. This won him most districts by a double-digit margin, with the exception of the Upper East and West Sides of the city. His opponent, former Governor Cuomo, meanwhile made history in the race. Not for rallying the vote but for being supported by the largest-ever Super PAC in a mayoral primary, raising a staggering $25 million in a futile attempt to defeat the 33-year-old political newcomer, who was backed by progressive heavyweights Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. However, all this establishment effort to keep the Assemblyman out of the prestigious office proved fruitless. Mamdani's grassroots campaign and populist messaging resonated across broadcast and social media, reports the Express. With the defeat undeniable, Cuomo phoned Mamdani to applaud his "really smart" campaign, saying to his own followers: "Tonight is his night. He deserved it. He won." As murmurs of Mamdani's considerable lead spread, high-profile progressives converged at his celebration bash, with well-known faces like 'Sex and the City' alumna Cynthia Nixon and 'Harold and Kumar' star turned Obama aide Kal Penn seen making their way into the venue amidst emotional scenes of supporters shedding tears and embracing. The progressives' significant triumph in New York sends a robust message to the Democratic Party, highlighting the establishment's failure to secure a victory over Trump in the 2024 election with their eleventh-hour bid from Kamala Harris. Commenting on the current political climate, Columbia's School of Professional Studies lecturer Basil Smikle observed: "Voters are not happy with the national party establishment and want to focus on building a movement. I think that's key here. Mamdani created a movement around his candidacy." Looking forward to the November 4 mayoral race in New York City, Mamdani is set to face peculiar competition. His challengers include a longshot Republican hopeful, Curtis Silwa, and it's anticipated he'll also face a surprise independent campaign from the sitting Mayor Eric Adams, who declared such a move as Mamdani's triumph seemed certain. Adams faced a dramatic loss of support from his party after being indicted on various counts of bribery and fraud related to seeking donations from Turkish property developers. However, President Trump intervened, instructing federal prosecutors to dismiss all charges against him. Complicating matters, despite admitting defeat in the Democratic primary, Andrew Cuomo did not rule out also making an independent run in November. He said in a statement: "I want to look at all the numbers as they come in and analyze the rank choice voting. "I will then consult with my colleagues on what is the best path for me to help the City of New York, as I have already qualified to run for mayor on an independent line in November." However, if he is successful in the upcoming elections, Mamdani will make history as New York's first Muslim mayor and one of its youngest leaders. On the final day before voters head to the polls, the progressive 33-year-old candidate shared his vision for the city, declaring: "I know what our community wants is what every community wants and deserves: safety, equality, and respect. "But in this city, in this country, you are not given those things; you have to win those things. And one of the clearest ways you win is at the ballot box."
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Cobra Kai' Creators to Write and Direct ‘Harold and Kumar' Sequel for Mandate Pictures
'Cobra Kai' creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald have closed a deal to write a new sequel for buddy stoner comedy 'Harold and Kumar' at Mandate Pictures, TheWrap has learned. Hurwitz and Schlossberg will also direct the film. Franchise stars John Cho and Kal Penn are expected to return, but no deals have been made yet. 'We're fired up to bring Harold and Kumar back in a return to the unapologetically R-rated, smoke-filled chaos that started it all,' Hurwitz and Schlossberg said in a joint statement to the Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news. 'It's high time they puff and pass their wisdom onto a new generation. Just don't tell their kids.' The franchise centers on stoner pals Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn), who embark on bizarre adventures while under the influence of weed. The series has grossed $104 million worldwide at the box office. The 'Harold and Kumar' franchise has yielded three films; 2004's 'Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,' which the trio wrote and then went on to make their directorial debut with 2008's 'Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.' The third film, 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,' was released in 2011. Hurwitz, Schlossberg and Heald are also producing the sequel via their Counterbalance Entertainment banner, alongside franchise producer Greg Shapiro. Lionsgate-owned Mandate, who also produced the original three films in the series, will also produce. The untitled sequel will be one of the first projects produced by Lionsgate's current motion picture group president Nathan Kahane, who is leaving the studio at year's end and returning to Mandate to be a producer. Hurwitz, Schlossberg and Heald, as well as Counterbalance, are repped by CAA and Hansen Jacobson. The post 'Cobra Kai' Creators to Write and Direct 'Harold and Kumar' Sequel for Mandate Pictures appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris's stepdaughter Ella Emhoff backs socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor
Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris, officially backed Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Sunday ahead of his rally at Brooklyn Steel. The 25-year-old fashion designer and Brooklyn resident showed support for the card-carrying Democratic Socialists of America member the same evening hundreds of millennials and Gen Zers packed into the music venue for the lefty pol's campaign event. Emhoff, whose father is former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, shared a video on Instagram of herself and Mamdani together at Brooklyn Steel ahead of the candidate's speech. 'I'm passing the phone to the next mayor of New York City who's going to make New York happier, healthier and more affordable,' she said in a riff off the 'pass the phone' social media trend before the camera turned to Mamdani. Emhoff, who also models, didn't speak on stage and Mamdani didn't acknowledge the endorsement during his stump speech, but he later touted the support in a tweet. 'Grateful for Ella Emhoff's support in our fight to make New York City more affordable,' the Queens assemblyman tweeted Sunday night. Brooklyn Councilman Chi Osse, 27, also appeared in the endorsement video and referred to Emhoff as a 'New York City 'It' girl' who is pro-abortion before it was her turn to speak. The Emhoff endorsement comes as other celebrities like 'Harold and Kumar' actor Kal Penn and comedian Jaboukie Young-White made appearances at the Sunday rally, which had more of a party-like atmosphere than a traditional campaign event. Around 2,000 supporters crammed into Brooklyn Steel, where volunteers gave out free yellow bandanas with New York-themed designs on them and a photo booth was set up. At one point, a long line of young supporters waited to take a picture with Mamdani inside the booth. The event also featured a massive push to get more volunteers to canvas on behalf of Mamdani with the June 24 primary just weeks away. A campaign field manager at one point got on stage with Penn and the pair did a role play on how to door knock. During Mamdani's speech, he once again called for a rent freeze, universal childcare and city-owned grocery stores while slamming President Trump and taking a shot at mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. 'We are living in a moment of intense fear and despair,' Mamdani said. 'Too many of us are struggling under the weight of work that takes too much but doesn't pay enough, all while costs continue to rise.' Mamdani has consistently polled in second place after Cuomo as the disgraced ex-governor attempts a political comeback.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kamala Harris's stepdaughter Ella Emhoff backs socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor
Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris, officially backed Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor on Sunday ahead of his rally at Brooklyn Steel. The 25-year-old fashion designer and Brooklyn resident showed support for the card-carrying Democratic Socialists of America member the same evening hundreds of millennials and Gen Zers packed into the music venue for the lefty pol's campaign event. Emhoff, whose father is former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, shared a video on Instagram of herself and Mamdani together at Brooklyn Steel ahead of the candidate's speech. 4 Ella Emhoff attends the Lacoste AW25 Show during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 at Roland-Garros on March 9, 2025 in Paris, Lacoste 'I'm passing the phone to the next mayor of New York City who's going to make New York happier, healthier and more affordable,' she said in a riff off the 'pass the phone' social media trend before the camera turned to Mamdani. Emhoff, who also models, didn't speak on stage and Mamdani didn't acknowledge the endorsement during his stump speech, but he later touted the support in a tweet. 'Grateful for Ella Emhoff's support in our fight to make New York City more affordable,' the Queens assemblyman tweeted Sunday night. Brooklyn Councilman Chi Osse, 27, also appeared in the endorsement video and referred to Emhoff as a 'New York City 'It' girl' who is pro-abortion before it was her turn to speak. The Emhoff endorsement comes as other celebrities like 'Harold and Kumar' actor Kal Penn and comedian Jaboukie Young-White made appearances at the Sunday rally, which had more of a party-like atmosphere than a traditional campaign event. 4 NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during a rally at Brooklyn Steel on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Michael Nagle 4 Ella Emhoff is backing candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City. Instagram / Chi Osse¿ Around 2,000 supporters crammed into Brooklyn Steel, where volunteers gave out free yellow bandanas with New York-themed designs on them and a photo booth was set up. At one point, a long line of young supporters waited to take a picture with Mamdani inside the booth. The event also featured a massive push to get more volunteers to canvas on behalf of Mamdani with the June 24 primary just weeks away. A campaign field manager at one point got on stage with Penn and the pair did a role play on how to door knock. During Mamdani's speech, he once again called for a rent freeze, universal childcare and city-owned grocery stores while slamming President Trump and taking a shot at mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. 4 Ella Emhoff attends the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Spring into Action gala at Cipriani South Street on April 24, 2025, in New York. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP 'We are living in a moment of intense fear and despair,' Mamdani said. 'Too many of us are struggling under the weight of work that takes too much but doesn't pay enough, all while costs continue to rise.' Mamdani has consistently polled in second place after Cuomo as the disgraced ex-governor attempts a political comeback.
