By Ritu Jha-
An Indian American man from San Jose wowed a crowd of more than 500 and took home the top prize in a Dev Patel lookalike contest at Dolores Park in San Francisco on Nov. 10, earning new fans and exploring a potential career in modeling.
Jaipreet Hundal, 25, a product manager at TikTok, beat 20 competitors to win the contest, which included rounds of audience voting. Despite not dressing up or reenacting scenes from Patel’s films as others did, Hundal’s striking resemblance to the Oscar-nominated actor helped him clinch the title.
“I wore my usual clothes and didn’t act out any of his roles, but people started noticing me and taking pictures, thinking the real Dev Patel had shown up,” Hundal told indica in an interview.
The win earned Hundal a $50 prize, a bouquet of flowers, and a monkey statue — a nod to Patel’s directorial debut, Monkey Man.
Hundal credits his girlfriend and friends for persuading him to join the contest just two days before the event.
“My girlfriend always says I look like Dev Patel or Ranveer Singh,” Hundal said. “Then, at a house party, friends pushed me to go for it.”
Patel, known for films like Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, is a personal inspiration for Hundal. “He’s humble and kind, and I really admire that about him,” he said.
Hundal’s parents were thrilled by his unexpected victory.
“They found out the same day and saw me on the news that night,” he said.
Since the contest, Hundal has begun pursuing modeling opportunities and working on social media content.
“I’ve started reaching out to modeling agencies and doing commercial shoots. TikTok has really honed my creativity,” he said, adding that brands have already approached him with offers.
Hundal’s newfound recognition has brought him celebrity-like attention.
“People often stop me on the street, thinking I’m Dev Patel,” he said with a laugh.
The contest was organized by three friends from San Jose: Sitara Bellam, Tasnim Khandakar, and Sahana Rangarajan. Bellam noted that they didn’t expect such a large turnout but believed the event highlighted a significant issue.
“South Asian actors have been marginalized in mainstream media, but events like this show how much love there is for representation,” she said.
Patel himself acknowledged the contest in an interview with Variety, joking that he might not have won.
“I think most of the men who showed up were far more handsome and qualified than I am,” he said.
As the Bay Area’s South Asian population continues to grow — with the Indian population rising by 53% statewide over the past decade — Hundal’s win reflects both the community’s vibrancy and its hunger for increased representation in media.