The Untold Truth Of Kumail Nanjiani

Having moved to America at age 19, Nanjiani avoided talking about his Pakistani heritage in his stand-up because he didn't want his work to be labeled as "immigrant comedy." However, as he developed his act, he realized that his experiences made him stand out in America, and that he had plenty of funny stories to tell that would resonate with audiences wherever they were born.

Now, he says that his relationship with Pakistan is complicated, because while there's so much that he still loves about the place that he grew up in, at the same time he sees that the country has some serious problems. He told Dax Shepard that corruption, violence, and general social unrest were facts of life when he was a child, and that when he was 17 and hanging out with friends after school, he saw someone get shot in the head. The image haunted him for years.

It was partly this level of insecurity that pushed Nanjiani's parents to move the family to Iowa — a process that took a long time and a lot of effort. His father became a prominent psychiatrist in Karachi, and after moving to Iowa he had to retrain and repeat his residency. Now, Nanjiani's brother Zain is a banker, while his parents live in New Jersey. And yes, they are supportive of his marriage and proud of his work, especially The Big Sick.