Indian-origin actor Adhir Kalyan has been cast as the star of Chuck Lorre's CBS comedy pilot, The United States of Al.
The show focuses on the friendship between Riley (Parker Young), a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir (Al), played by Kalyan, the Afghan interpreter who served with his unit and has just arrived to start a new life in the US.
Kalyan, born in Durban, South Africa, to an Indian-South African family is best known for playing Timmy Patel in the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement for five seasons.
His other recent credits include Netflix's Arrested Development, Amazon's I Love Dick, Nip/Tuck and Aliens in America. He has also appeared in movies including the Paul Blart: Mall Cop franchise, Youth in Revolt, No Strings Attached and Up in the Air.
David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari are attached as writers on the Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. comedy with religious studies scholar Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi serving as executive producers along with Goetsch and Ferrari.
