7 Facts About Aasif Mandvi: Career Beginnings, Net Worth, Marriage to Shaifali Puri, and Role in This Way Up

Aasif Mandvi is an English-American actor and comedian whose parents hailed from a Mumbai-based Dawoodi Bohra Muslim family. 

A student of theatre, Mandvi was an accomplished theatre performer who appeared in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway plays before making into the film fraternity. He has close to a hundred acting credits throughout his 32-year career.  

Here are seven facts about Aasif Mandvi:

7. Plays Vish in the Channel 4 Comedy-Drama Series, This Way Up

Mandvi plays Vish, the boyfriend of Sharon Horgan's character, Shona, in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series This Way Up.

The series stars Aisling Bea as the central character, Áine, who has a nervous breakdown and must reclaim her life. Dorian Grover, Tobias Menzies, and Indira Varma also join the main cast of the show.    

6. Married to Shaifali Puri

Mandvi is married to his longtime girlfriend, Shaifali Puri: an author and a humanitarian. They had been dating for three years before making the big leap on August 27, 2017. 

The lavish ceremony was held center stage at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The wedding was an Indian interfaith multicultural affair that saw 220 in-attendants including close friends and family. 

5. Movie Credits include The Proposal, Spiderman 2, The Last Airbender, and Million Dollar Arm  

Mandvi has had some prominent roles in blockbuster movies throughout his illustrious career. 

His most notable appearances include Mr. Aziz in Spiderman 2, Commander Zhao in The Last Airbender, and Ash Vasudevan in The Million Dollar Arm. 

Besides that, he has also appeared in such movies as The Dictator, Premium Rush, Dark Horse, and The Internship.

4. Tenured Correspondent on The Daily Show

Mandvi has had a long stint working as a correspondent for The Daily Show since 2006. Mandvi is called on when the show spoofs religious and cultural tribalism.

Besides his long tenure with The Daily Show, Mandvi has appeared in such TV shows as The Sopranos, Law & Order, Sex and the City, CSI, Oz, and ER. 

3. He is also a Theatre Performer

Before Mandvi was a prominent fixture on the screens, he was a theatre performer. 

He graduated with a degree in theatre from the University of South Florida whereupon he honed his craft in such theatres as Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

Upon his move to New York, he became even more involved and performed on off-Broadway plays Einstein's Gift and the critically-acclaimed one-man show, Sakina's Restaurant.

On Broadway, he has performed in the plays Oklahoma! and Homebody/Kabul.  

2. Aasif Mandvi's Age and Ethnicity

Aasif Mandvi was born Aasif Hakim Mandviwala on March 5, 1966, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, to father Hakim and mother Fatima. He just turned 54. 

His parents moved to England when Aasif was one and he attended Woodhouse Grove School but moved with his family to the USA when he was 16. They settled in Tampa, Florida where Aasif enrolled in the University of South Florida and his career took off.  

Aasif comes from a Dawoodi Bohra Muslim household.

1. Has a Net Worth of $800k

As of March 2020, Aasif's net worth stands at $800k. A career actor, his reach could be felt on the stage and on the screens. 

He debuted in 1988 and in the decades since he has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows including a long stint as a correspondent in The Daily Show.

Most recently, he is part of the main cast of the Channel 4 comedy-drama series, This Way Up, set for a second season.