He and the other students were banned from using the word "like" in his acting classes, this was to make them sound more intelligent during auditions.

Is the first Indian-American actor to have a successful career in mainstream Hollywood.

Although he attended Howell High School's performing arts program, he later transferred to Freehold Township (NJ) High School, where he graduated in 1995.

Is a vegetarian, contrary to the role that he plays in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).

Has one younger brother.

Began using the name Kal Penn, a variation on his first name Kalpen, to get more roles; he believed that his difficult foreign name would scare away potential employers.

Once directed Jason Allentoff in a short film for a college project.

Attended UCLA.

Born in New Jersey, now resides in L.A.

Lives in same Los Angeles apartment building as director 'Leon Shanglebee'.

His favorite book is "The Namesake" and used to check into hotels under the pseudonym of "Gogol Ganguli", the lead character of the book. When found out that Mira Nair was making a film out of it, despite her having already cast an actor in the part, Penn lobbied for the role and eventually won it.

Was offered a part in "Planet Terror," the Robert Rodriguez segment of Grindhouse (2007), but turned it down due to the conflicting shoot of The Namesake (2006).

When he was in 8th grade he was in a school production of the musical "The Wiz".

Is of Gujarati Indian descent.

His father is an engineer and his mother, who has a master's in chemistry, worked as a fragrance evaluator for a perfume company.

He attended the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Howell High School in Farmingdale, New Jersey where he went though an intense study of the arts in acting, dance/movement, and vocal training.

Met future Where's the Party Yaar? (2003) co-star Datta Dave and Dave's current financial adviser Mihir Upadhyaya during college at UCLA. He assisted Dave in his pursuit of an acting career.