Anoop Desai
S8 · Eliminated 6th–7th
As of July 6, 2026
Anoop Desai's most recent screen credit is a 2025 episode of St. Denis Medical. He played the Djinn on What We Do in the Shadows in 2022-23. He released music as Anoop Desai and later under the pseudonym TOTEM.[1]
Career
After the show
- July 5, 2009–September 15, 2009Desai was on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009, which ran from July 5 to September 15, 2009.[1]
- March 23, 2010He released the single My Name on March 23, 2010.[1]
- 2012In 2012, Desai began writing and performing under the pseudonym TOTEM.[1]
- November 13, 2012He released the single Love War, featuring Adhd, on November 13, 2012.[1]
- 2016In 2016, he headlined the BMI stage at Lollapalooza.[1]
Date not documented
- After being accepted to UNC, Desai joined the UNC Clef Hangers. He was music director in his junior year and president in his senior year, and he graduated in 2008.UNC Clef Hangers[1]
- His solo on the UNC Clef Hangers recording of She Has No Time was recognized with a place on BOCA 2007 (Best of College A Cappella).[1]
Discography
Awards
No awards are documented yet.
Other activity
- 2018In 2018, Desai was offered a role in the developmental lab of the Broadway-bound production of The Secret Garden.[1]
- 2019In 2019, Desai made his Off-Broadway debut at MCC Theater in The Wrong Man.[1]
- 2020In 2020, Desai appeared on Billions as Dev Satyal.[1]
- 2020In 2020, Desai appeared on Little Voice as Ravi.[1]
- 2022He played the Djinn in 7 episodes of What We Do in the Shadows in 2022–23. In June 2022 he was announced as a recurring cast member in six of the 10 episodes of season 4. Sources give two start years for the role, 2021 and 2022.[1][5]
- 2022In 2022, Desai appeared on Evil as Larry.[1]
- 2022In 2022, Desai appeared on Russian Doll as Salim.[1]
- 2023In 2023, Desai made his film debut in The Adults, as Josh.[1]
- 2024He played Raj Masihajjar in 6 episodes of Under the Bridge (2024).[1]
- 2024He played Robert in Babygirl (2024).[1]
- 2025He played Ben Harris in St. Denis Medical (2025).[1]
Sources
5 sources
- Anoop Desai (Wikipedia revision 1362842795) — Wikipedia, updated July 6, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (8) of source 1
- Filmography: “St. Denis Medical”
- Filmography: “2022–23”
- TOTEM section: “under the pseudonym TOTEM”
- Lead sentence: “born December 20, 1986”
- Infobox, Born line (birth_date):
{{birth date and age|mf=yes|1986|12|20}} - Extended plays, All Is Fair: “Label: Independent”
- Early life: “Desai joined the UNC Clef Hangers”
- Post-Idol: “from July 5 to September 15, 2009”
- American Idol season 8 — Wikipedia, updated August 31, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 2
- Elimination chart row Anoop Desai: Pl. 6, Eliminated in the Top 7 column (4/22); ratings table episode 'Top 7 Redux Results', April 22, 2009
- List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 3
- Contestants table, row Anoop Desai: season 8, place finish 6th–7th
- 'Idol' boosts Connick, Sinatra sales — USA Today (Idol Chatter), published May 12, 2010. News report. Cited by another source; not opened by our researchers.
- What We Do In The Shadows: Anoop Desai Joins Season 4 As Recurring — Deadline, published June 30, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 5
- Article body: “appearing in six of 10 episodes”