Born: December 23, 1918
Died: October 10, 2013 (at age 94)
Birthplace: Indore, India
Kumar Valavhadas Pallana (23 December 1918 - 10 October 2013) was an Indian character actor and vaudevillian. He performed on the Mickey Mouse Club as a plate spinner and juggler.
Pallana owned an Indian restaurant, Cosmic Cup (now Cosmic Cafe) in Dallas, Texas which Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson frequented. Anderson cast Pallana in Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Darjeeling Limited. He has also worked in the 2010 Bollywood movie Anjaana Anjaani and the acclaimed independent 2011 film Another Earth.
He died on 10 October 2013 at his home in California, aged 94.
He was well loved by both his children and grandson. His daughter Sandhya Pallana worked with him on The Terminal and other productions. His son Deepak Pallana is also an actor, who has appeared in such films as Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.
Year | Movie | Role |
1996 | Bottle Rocket | Kumar |
1998 | Rushmore | Mr. Littlejeans |
2001 | The Royal Tenenbaums | Pagoda |
2002 | Bomb the System | Kumar Baba |
2003 | Duplex | Indian Restaurant Owner |
2004 | The Terminal | Gupta Rajan |
2005 | Romance & Cigarettes | Da Da Kumar |
2005 | RevoLOUtion | Kumar |
2006 | 10 Items or Less | Lee |
2007 | The Darjeeling Limited | Old man on train |
2009 | Today's Special | Shah |
2010 | Anjaana Anjaani | Coast guard |
2011 | Campus Radio | Yogi |
2011 | Another Earth | Purdeep |
2014 | Hamlet A.D.D. | Kumar |