You’ve probably seen him. Maybe it was that flash of white coat in a chaotic hospital hallway, or perhaps as the "perfect" guy on a Netflix dating arc that made you feel slightly conflicted. Rushi Kota has this weirdly specific talent for playing characters who feel like they should be simple archetypes—the handsome doctor, the supportive boyfriend, the tech genius—but then he adds this layer of human messiness that catches you off guard.
Most people know him as Prashant from Never Have I Ever. You know, the guy who was basically the "dream" arranged marriage prospect for Kamala. But if you actually look at the full list of Rushi Kota movies and tv shows, there is a lot more going on than just being a romantic foil. He’s been grinding in the industry for over a decade, jumping from gritty indies to some of the biggest network dramas on television.
The Grey’s Anatomy Era: Dr. Vik Roy and the Reality of Being an "Intern"
Honestly, the big break for Kota was Grey’s Anatomy. He played Dr. Vikram Roy. If you’re a die-hard fan of the show, you probably remember Vik as part of that new crop of interns in Season 14.
He wasn't exactly a saint.
Actually, Vik was kind of a mess. He got fired. Twice. Once for being high on weed cookies at work (classic Grey’s drama) and another time for a massive medical error that he tried to cover up. It’s a role that really showed Kota’s range because he had to play someone arrogant enough to be unlikable but vulnerable enough that you almost felt bad when he got the boot. He even appeared in the web series spinoff Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team, which actually got an Emmy nomination for Short Form Drama. It’s easy to forget that he was essentially the first Indian American actor to have a long-term recurring intern role on that show.
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That Never Have I Ever Spark
Then came Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever. As Prashant, Kota became a sort of "heartthrob" figure, but he’s spoken openly about how he wanted to make the character more than just a cardboard cutout.
Prashant was smart, successful, and had a great jawline, sure. But by Season 2, we started seeing the cracks. He was the guy telling Kamala to "not make a fuss" at her male-dominated lab. It was a subtle, really grounded look at how even well-meaning people can uphold systemic issues. Kota’s performance made you like him and then side-eye him in the same breath. That’s hard to pull off.
A Career Beyond the Heartthrob Labels
If you dig into his filmography, you’ll find stuff that’s way outside the "attractive professional" lane. Look at Useless Humans. It’s a 2020 sci-fi alien comedy where he plays Louis. It is low-budget, weird, and totally different from the polished halls of Grey Sloan Memorial.
Then there’s Dumb Money (2023). This was the big GameStop movie. Kota played Baiju Bhatt, the co-founder of Robinhood. He’s acting alongside Sebastian Stan, who plays Vlad Tenev. In the movie, Baiju is often the one in the shadows, not always seeing eye-to-eye with the chaos unfolding around the stock market scandal. It’s a high-stakes, fast-paced role that proved he can hold his own in a major ensemble cast.
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Other Notable Projects You Might Have Missed
- The Girl in the Pool (2024): A recent thriller where he plays Kevin.
- Ordinary Joe: He played Sai, a campaign manager, in this NBC series that explored "what if" timelines.
- Chicago Fire: He recently popped up as Ambrose Sterling in the 2025 season.
- iCarly (The Reboot): He had a guest spot as Luke Tyler, showing he can do the sitcom thing too.
- Make Me a Match: A Hallmark movie where he played "Boom" (Bhumesh), proving he can do the cozy, romantic lead thing without the Netflix edge.
From Engineering to the Screen
One of the most interesting things about Rushi is that he didn't start as an actor. He actually has a degree in Automotive Engineering from Farmingdale State College. He wanted to be a Formula 1 racer.
Think about that for a second.
He went from studying how to build fast cars to getting a Master’s in Fine Arts from Harvard. He even spent months in Russia at the Moscow Art Theatre School. This isn't just a guy who got lucky because of his looks; he’s a classically trained actor who treats the craft like a science. He’s mentioned in interviews that he didn't know much about acting when he started his Master's, so he just became a "sponge," absorbing everything.
What’s Next for Rushi Kota?
As of early 2026, Kota is continuing to diversify. He’s been moving into voice-over work, notably in The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island, working with Lilly Singh and Kal Penn.
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There's also his recent stint on Chicago Fire (Season 13/14), which suggests he might be becoming a staple in the Dick Wolf universe. Usually, when an actor lands a recurring spot in one of those "procedural" worlds, it means they’ve officially reached "working actor" royalty status.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors
If you're following his career or looking to break into the industry yourself, there are a few things you can take away from his trajectory:
- Don't skip the training: Even with a "breakout" look, Kota went back for a Master's at Harvard to solidify his skills.
- Vary the genres: He moves between Hallmark (wholesome), Grey’s (drama), and indies like Phobias (thriller). This prevents typecasting.
- Watch the smaller roles: Some of his best work is in short-lived series like Ordinary Joe or guest spots where he has to build a character in just one or two episodes.
To see the full evolution of his work, start with his early guest spots in shows like Extant (with Halle Berry) or 9-1-1 before jumping into the more famous Netflix and ABC roles. It gives you a much better appreciation for how he’s shaped his presence on screen.