Kumail Nanjiani Reflects on His Experience with Marvel's "Eternals"

Kumail Nanjiani recently shared his reflections on his role in the Marvel film "Eternals" during an episode of NPR’s "Wild Card with Rachel Martin." Despite the film receiving critical backlash and underperforming at the box office, Nanjiani expressed pride in his portrayal of the superhero Kingo. He stated, “I’m very proud of my performance in it,” and emphasized that he would not change anything about his role.

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Nanjiani highlighted the importance of distinguishing personal experiences from public reception. He articulated that while he cannot control the film's success or critics' opinions, he can choose to learn from the experience. He remarked, “A failure is not a failure. It truly is an opportunity to learn.” This perspective has shaped his approach to acting, encouraging him to maintain a positive outlook regardless of external judgments.

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The negative reception of "Eternals" had a profound effect on Nanjiani, leading him to seek therapy, as he discussed on Mike Birbiglia’s podcast "Working It Out." He noted the challenges of being contracted for multiple films, stating, “I signed on for six movies… and then none of that happened.” This experience has influenced his career trajectory and personal growth.

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In his discussions, Nanjiani emphasized the need for resilience in the face of criticism. He acknowledged that while the film did not meet expectations, the lessons learned were invaluable. His candidness about the emotional toll of the film's reception reflects a broader conversation within the entertainment industry about the pressures faced by actors.

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Despite Nanjiani's positive outlook, the film "Eternals" faced significant criticism from audiences and reviewers alike. The mixed reviews highlighted issues such as pacing and character development, which contributed to its disappointing box office performance. Critics have pointed out that even with a star-studded cast, the film struggled to resonate with viewers.

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Following his experience with "Eternals," Nanjiani has returned to stand-up comedy, recently releasing a Hulu special titled "Night Thoughts." This marks his first return to the stage in a decade, suggesting a shift in focus towards projects that align more closely with his creative vision.

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• “I’m very proud of my performance in it,” — Kumail Nanjiani, Actor

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• “I do not get to choose how the audience is going to receive it. I do not get to choose how much money it’s going to make. I do not get to choose what the reviewers are going to think of it. What I do get to choose is whether or not I learned from it, you know? So to me, that’s been a thing that I have to remind myself over and over and over and over – is that a failure is not a failure. It truly is an opportunity to learn… What I can control is learning from every job and taking a joyful approach to every job.” — Kumail Nanjiani, Actor

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• “They make you sign up for all this stuff… and then none of that happened.” — Kumail Nanjiani, Actor

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Nanjiani's reflections on "Eternals" illustrate the complexities of navigating success and failure in the entertainment industry, emphasizing personal growth and resilience in the face of external challenges.

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