Karan Soni (born January 8, 1989) is an Indian-American actor. Often appearing in comedic roles, he came to prominence for playing Dopinder in the films Deadpool (2016) and its sequels Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), and voicing Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).
Born in New Delhi, Soni moved to the United States to study business at the University of Southern California before pursuing an acting career. He made his feature film debut in Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), which was followed by lead appearances on the series Betas (2013) and Other Space (2015), and the film A Nice Indian Boy (2024). Soni has also appeared in the films Ghostbusters (2016), Office Christmas Party (2016), and Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019). On television, he has appeared as a series regular on Blunt Talk (2015–2016) and Miracle Workers (2019–2023).
Early life Soni was born in New Delhi, India, and he attended an international school there. He came to the United States to study at the University of Southern California.
Career Soni made his film debut in Yusuf Sumer's 2010 comedy film Kaka Nirvana, alongside Rachel Quinn. In 2013, Soni was cast in the Amazon Studios original series Betas. The series was canceled after one season. In 2014, Soni appeared in commercials for AT&T along with Jim Conroy.
In 2015, Soni appeared in Other Space, a series created by Paul Feig for Yahoo! Screen, as Captain Stewart Lipinski. Yahoo! Screen would be shut down later in the year, preventing the series from being renewed for a second season, while the first season would later be picked up by DUST in 2020. Later in 2015, he appeared in episodes of Melissa & Joey, The Goldbergs and 100 Things to Do Before High School and began starring in Blunt Talk, opposite Patrick Stewart, as Martin. The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered in 2016.
Soni appeared in the 2016 Marvel film Deadpool as a taxi driver named Dopinder and reprised the role in its sequels Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). In 2016, Soni also appeared in Ghostbusters as the delivery man Benny and in 2019, he appeared in Pokémon Detective Pikachu. From 2019 to 2023, Soni was a main cast member of the anthology comedy television series Miracle Workers.
In February 2023, Soni was announced as the voice of Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In August 2024, Soni confirmed that he would reprise his role as Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Soni played the lead role in the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy which premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2024. He also starred in Stealing Pulp Fiction. In September 2024, it was announced that Soni had been cast as the lead role in the thriller film Fade to Black. In 2025, he was part of the ensemble cast for the Audible Original audio drama Murder at the Patel Motel. Soni appeared in the opening episode of Pluribus.
Personal life Soni is gay. He is married to writer and director Roshan Sethi, with whom he developed the film 7 Days.
Filmography
+Key Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film Year Title Role Notes 2010 Kaka Nirvana Kemal Short film 2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Arnau Bit by Bit Chander Short film 2014 Supremacy Store Clerk Obedient Artists Jaxton 2015 Goosebumps Mr. Rooney 2016 Deadpool Dopinder Chee and T Roger Raval The Sweet Life Convenience Store Clerk Mono Amit Chowdury Ghostbusters Benny Office Christmas Party Nate Winetoss 2017 Rough Night Raviv And Then There Was Eve Zain Unicorn Store Kevin Creep 2 Dave 2018 Little Bitches Hall Monitor Andy Deadpool 2 Dopinder Better Start Running Nelson Office Uprising Mourad 2019 Corporate Animals Freddie Pokémon Detective Pikachu JackAlways Be My Maybe Tony2020 Like a Boss Josh Tinker Trolls World Tour Riff VoiceSuperintelligence AhmedCoffee Shop NamesSathya/ScottShort film 2021 7 Days Ravi Also writerComing Out with the Help of a Time MachineSidShort film2022 Not Okay Kelvin The People We Hate at the Wedding DominicFour SamosasSanjay Strange World CaspianVoice2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India World's Best Calming Voice2024 A Nice Indian Boy Naveen Gavaskar Paper Flowers Milan Mehta Deadpool & Wolverine Dopinder Stealing Pulp Fiction Steve 2027 Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India Voice; In production TBA Fade to Black AmitPost-production TBA Thud Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 The Protector Kenny Episode: "Safe" Worst. Prom. Ever. Glenn Television film 2012 Touch Ravi Episode: "1+1=3" Linked Out Keith Episode: "Facebook Intervention" 1600 Penn Misfit Episode: "Putting Out Fires" Bite Me Teacher's Assistant Episode: "Continue!" Are You There, Chelsea? Stan Episode: "Sloane's Ex" 2012–2013 The Neighbors Indian Allen 2 episodes Geo's Pizza Asheed 8 episodes 2013 Little Horribles Unknown Episode: "Road Rage" Trophy Wife Graduate No. 2 Episode: "Pilot" Aim High Mingesha Dutta Episode 2.2 The Middle Vijal Episode: "Life Skills" 2013–2014 Mighty Med Benny 3 episodes Betas Avinash "Nash" Dagavi Main role 2014 Growing Up Fisher Owen Episode: "Secret Lives of Fishers" 2015 Melissa & Joey Flash Episode: "Failure to Communicate" Other Space Stewart Lipinski Main role 100 Things to Do Before High School Caltech Dude Episode: "Be a Mad Scientist Thing!" Any Tom, Dick, or Harry Ernie Dassani Television film 2015–2016 Blunt Talk Martin Bassi Recurring (season 1)Main role (season 2) 2015–2017 The Goldbergs Randy Mescunda, Srinivas Bollimpalli 6 episodes 2016 The Grinder Cooper Episode: "From the Ashes"; uncredited 2017 I Live with Models Marshall 5 episodes What Would Diplo Do? Bellboy 1 episode Silicon Valley Tenley Episode: "Hooli-Con" Room 104 Anish Episode: "The Internet"; also director 2018 Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters Ravi Episode: "Mermaid" Wrecked Keith 2 episodes2019 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Gordon Lundt Episode: "The Honeypot" Miracle Workers Sanjay Prince Main role Will & Grace Mike Episode: "With Enemies Like These"2020 Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Lord Chris Vexler Main role Cake Himself Episode: "Auditions: No Reader" Dream Corp LLC Patient 27 Episode: "Fear of Heights" Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun Jerry Seinfeld Episode: "Housemates" Big Mouth Voice, episode: "Four Stories About Hand Stuff" 2020–2021 Mira, Royal Detective Manjeet Voice, 10 episodes2021 Special Dev Laghari 2 episodes Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail The Gunslinger Main role Trolls: Holiday in Harmony Riff Voice, television film 2021–2022 Karma's World Mr. Rishi Singal Voice, 11 episodes2022 The Great North Gavin Voice, episode: "Woodfellas Adventure" Home Economics Tod Episode: "Novel Signed by Author, $22.19" 2022–2023 The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib Pip Voice, 25 episodes2023 Miracle Workers: End Times TI-90, Tai Main role, 10 episodes Strange Planet Being No. 1 / Bestie Voice, episode: "Adolescent Limbshake"2024 Abbott Elementary Avi 3 episodes; also directed episode: "Librarian" Nobody Wants This Vali Episode: "Obliterated"2025 American Dad! Indian Anchor Voice, episode: "Guardian" Mickey Mouse Funhouse Naatu Bandar Voice, episode: "The Golden Mango"PluribusDeshpandeEpisode: "We Is Us"2026 The Boroughs Toby
Podcasts Year Title Role Notes 2021 The Coldest Case Edgar 3 episodes Bridgewater 4 episodes Dark Air with Terry Carnation Jeet Batra 18 episodes2025Murder at the Patel Motel
References