Dev Patel Says Men Who Showed Up to His Lookalike Contest Were ‘Far More Handsome and Qualified Than I Am'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dev Patel.Photo:Variety via Getty

Variety via Getty

Dev Patelhas “heard all about” the lookalike contest he inspired.

At theRed Sea Film Festivalin Saudi Arabia, Patel, 34, spoke withVarietyabout the Dev Patel lookalike contest at Dolores Park in San Francisco on Nov. 10.

Jaipreet Hundal, winner of Dev Patel lookalike contest.Jaipreet Hundal

Jaipreet Hundal

“I also gotta say that I think most of the men who showed up were far more handsome and qualified than I am. I think I would have lost at my own lookalike contest, for sure,” Patel added.

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Patel toldVarietythat he was “shocked at the sheer amount of people that showed up” and that he thought the contest was “really amazing.”

The winner of the doppelgänger contest, 25-year-oldJaipreet Hundalfrom San Jose, received a giant $50 check, a “Monkey Man” statue and a bouquet of flowers, according to NBC News.

“Shoutout to all the Dev Patel lookalikes,” Hundal said in aspeech following his win. “If the real Dev Patel shows up, I don’t know who would win, me or him.”

Dev Patel.Variety via Getty

Unlike Chalamet, 28, who crashed his own competition and caused a frenzy, Patel was a no-show at his namesake event. Still, Patel thinks the lookalike contest was a way to spotlight diversity.

“Hopefully, I am just the gateway to this happening to all sorts of brilliant actors of different races and genders,” theMonkey Mandirector said. “It was refreshing to see a community come together like that and, hey, if there is ever a moment where I can be associated with some form of laughter and joy, it’s great. It is all good.”

Patel’s next film,Rabbit Trap, will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

source: people.com