Anirudh Pisharody
American actor and film producer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anirudh Pisharody (born February 2, 1994) is an Indian-American actor and film producer. He is best known for the role of Nirdesh "Des" in the third season of the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever. He is also known for his role as the firefighter Ravi Panikkar in the procedural drama 9-1-1.
Anirudh Pisharody | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 2, 1994 India |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (B.S.) |
| Occupations | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Spouse |
Jill V. Dae (m. 2023) |
Early life and education
Anirudh Pisharody was born in India and moved to the United States as a child. He spent much of his childhood in Austin, Texas.[1] Growing up, he developed an interest in acting and regularly participated in middle school and high school theater productions.[2] Following high school, Pisharody initially wanted to study to become a medical doctor. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health.[3]
After college, he worked briefly in a healthcare job in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, he relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 in the hopes of attending a medical school in Los Angeles. During his time in Los Angeles, he pursued acting professionally and later formalized his training by earning a certificate in film, cinema, and video studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[3][4]
Career
Pisharody began his acting career taking on roles in short films and making guest appearances on television shows such as The Goldbergs, Last Man Standing, and SEAL Team.[5][6] He also appeared in the Rogue Warfare independent action film series and in the 2018 film Cerebrum.[7]
In addition to his television and film work, Pisharody has made appearances in several music videos. Early in his career, he was featured as a lead extra in O Fresh's "We Up to Something" featuring Slim Thug (2017)[8] and played the male love interest in Stela Cole's "Lucky Day" (2018).[8][9] He also portrayed a LARP warrior fighter in a music video for the rock band Punch Punch Kick's track "Licking My Wounds".[10] More recently, he starred as a cast member in the official music video for "Home" by Renzu Music.[8][11]
Pisharody was a member of the 2020 ABC Discovers Showcase, as one of about a dozen actors from a pool of over several thousand applicants.[12]
In 2021, Pisharody landed a recurring role in the Ryan Murphy-produced drama 9-1-1 as probationary firefighter Ravi Panikkar.[13][14][15][16][17] In 2026, fans petitioned for Pisharody to become a series regular from Season 9 onwards.[18]
In 2022, Pisharody was cast in the third season of Mindy Kaling's hit Netflix comedy Never Have I Ever. He portrayed Nirdesh "Des," an attractive rival to the main character, Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan).[19][20] His casting was notable for breaking the traditional mold of the "nerdy sidekick" often associated with male actors of South Asian descent in Hollywood.[21][22] Pisharody also appeared in the film Unit 234 in 2022.[23]
Alongside acting, Pisharody co-founded the production company Black Velvet Films with his wife, Jill V. Dae.[3]
In August 2025, Pisharody joined the cast of the comedy film Better Life, acting alongside Randall Park and Joel Kim Booster.[24] He was cast in June 2026 to star opposite Tongayi Chirisa in the time-bending thriller Chronos.[25][26][27]
Personal life
Pisharody met his wife, Hong Kong-born filmmaker and producer Jill V. Dae, in 2014 while they were both students at the University of Texas at Austin. After navigating a long-distance relationship when they graduated, Pisharody proposed at Hearst Castle in 2019.[3] Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple married in November 2023 at the Castello Orsini-Odescalchi in Bracciano, near Rome, Italy. The wedding featured a Chinese tea ceremony, an Indian kalyanam, and a Western wedding ceremony.[3]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Totally TV | Aladdin | |
| 2019 | The Goldbergs | Guest | |
| 2020 | Last Man Standing | Guest | |
| 2021–present | 9-1-1 | Ravi Panikkar | Recurring role |
| 2022–2023 | Big Sky | Recurring role | |
| 2022 | Never Have I Ever | Nirdesh "Des" | Recurring (Season 3) |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Cerebrum | Bruno | |
| 2019 | Rogue Warfare | ||
| 2019 | Rogue Warfare: The Hunt | ||
| 2020 | Rogue Warfare: Death of a Nation | ||
| 2022 | Unit 234 | Jordan | |
| TBA | Better Life | ||
| TBA | Chronos | In production |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "We Up to Something" | O Fresh (feat. Slim Thug) | Producer |
| 2018 | "Lucky Day" | Stela Cole | Male Love Interest |
| 2024 | "Home" | Renzu Music | Male Lead |
Theater
| Year | Title | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | An Evening Repast | The Morgan-Wixson Theater |