Beautiful People 2009: Aziz Ansari

In one of Aziz Ansari's first viral video hits, "Shittiest Mixtape Boombox Blast," the comedian lost a bet and was forced to walk around Manhattan toting a stereo system playing the most embarrassing pop compilation possible (think Crazy Town, Sixpence None the Richer). He has since lived it down -- this year, Ansari will star in Parks and Recreation, a mockumentary show about park workers from the creators of The Office that co-stars Amy Poehler. Ansari also fell in with the Judd Apatow pack, which led to three big film roles. The first was bro-epic I Love You, Man, with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. Then came Observe and Report, the tale of a mall cop (Seth Rogen), and finally, Funny People -- Apatow's big summer flick starring Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler as stand-up comedians. "I play a comedian named Randy," Ansari explains, "and he tells these horrible jokes about sex and stuff, but he just kills onstage. So all the other comics hate him."

Fortunately, in his own field, Ansari is beloved -- as one-third of the cult sketch trio (and MTV hit) Human Giant (with Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel). So how does he feel about being one of the first Indian-American comics to hit it so big? "It's funny," he says. "Lately, everyone is asking me if I've seen Slumdog Millionaire, and giving me high fives like I helped. It made me wonder if white people are just like, psyched all the time. There's always some white person being awesome."
RACHEL SYME

Aziz wears a coat by Five Four and shirt by Oakley. · Hair: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Crème · Face cream: Nivea Rehydrating Moisturiser

< BACK TO THE BEATUTIFUL PEOPLE 2009 LIST