The largest television awards show of the year is almost two months away. On September 17, 2018, the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented. The Emmys honor the best in television, including actors, directors, and everyone else who works behind the scenes to produce our favorite shows.
For programs that were broadcast between June 1, 2017, and May 31, 2018, Academy members vote on what they believe to be the best work in their respective fields.
On June 11, the official Emmy nominations ballot for this year was made available. Voters have approximately two weeks to submit their choices, and on July 12 the results will be announced. A staggering 22,000 members will be able to vote in their category this year (performers nominate performers, writers nominate writers, you get the gist).
To determine which South Asian musicians might be nominated, we browsed the lengthy ballot.
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Awarded for Best Actress in a Comedy:
For “The Mindy Project,” Mindy Kaling
The actress is nominated for her work in “The Mindy Project,” the FOX/Hulu comedy she founded, wrote, and starred in for six seasons. She is nominated for her role in the show’s final season. Its run came to an end in November 2017. In the end, Kaling’s character, pop culture-obsessed OB-GYN Mindy Lahiri, managed to track down her long-lost love and baby’s father Danny Castellano.
Tiya Sircar’s role in “Alex. Inc.”
On ABC’s regrettably brief family comedy, Sircar portrayed attorney Rooni. The sitcom only had one season before it was cancelled. Despite this, Sircar stood out on the show when she co-starred with Zach Braff as one half of an interracial, happily married couple.
Dramatic actress of the year:
For “Quantico,” Priyanka Chopra
Chopra is up for a nomination for the third and final season of “Quantico” for her portrayal of the tough Alex Parrish in this ABC thriller. Her previous performance earned her the People’s Choice Award, making her the first Bollywood actress to do so.
Outstanding Comedy Supporting Actor:
For “Wrecked,” Asif Ali
On this TBS comedy about a group of survivors left alone on an island after an aircraft catastrophe, Ali portrays sports agent Pack. Indeed, it resembles a clever satire of “Lost” almost exactly. For “Wrecked,” which has been renewed for a third season, Ali is up for election for the second season.
For “Brockmire,” Utkarsh Ambudkar
Ambudkar joined the acclaimed IFC comedy’s second season, which also features Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet. Raj, the dynamic sports commentator he portrays, competes against Jim Brockmire, played by Azaria. His other credits include the upcoming movies “Blindspotting” and “White Famous,” as well as “The Mindy Project.”
3. “Silicon Valley” star Kumail Nanjiani
Since the beginning of this HBO comedy, Nanjiani has had a key role. Dinesh Chugtai is always presented as the funny coder who is eager to please. Nanjiani is in the spotlight after receiving praise for his movie “The Big Sick” and may very probably receive his first Emmy nomination. At “Silicon Valley,” he was also a nominee in this category for the 2017 Critics’ Choice Awards.
4. For “The Big Bang Theory,” Kunal Nayyar
For 11 years, Nayyar has as local Indian-American Rajesh Koothrapalli on the CBS comedy, which is still one of the most popular sitcoms on television. He has received numerous Emmy nominations throughout the years for outstanding TV comedy, along with the rest of the ensemble. He is up for nomination this year for season 11 of “The Big Bang Theory.”
Award-winning Dramatic Supporting Actor:
For “The Magicians,” Arjun Gupta
The Magicians on Syfy is a diverse, underappreciated, and delightful escape. Gupta’s portrayal of Penny Adiyodi earned him a spot on the ballot. Particularly in season 4, when Penny experiences emotional anguish, Gupta succeeded in bringing about true character development.
For “Star Trek: Discovery,” Shazad Latif.
Latif plays Ash Tyler in this acclaimed drama on CBS All Access. He now belongs to the massive “Star Trek” franchise. He is involved in one of the biggest story twists and plays a significant role in the first season.
 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
For “The Good Place,” Jameela Jamil
It’s hard to believe this is Jamil’s first acting role after the subtle way she portrayed Tahani Al-Jamil on this fantastic NBC comedy. Jamil continues to excel in the part in season 2, for which she is nominated, delving further into Tahani’s emotional makeup.
2. “Champions” cast member Mindy Kaling
Kaling is on two different ballots, you guys. This time, she is producing and appearing as Priya Patel in the NBC comedy. In order for her adolescent son Michael to pursue his acting ambitions, Priya leaves him in the custody of his estranged father in New York City. Priya occasionally makes an appearance on the program to share her unique brand of parenting wisdom.
For “Champions,” Mouzam Makkar
Makkar is also nominated for “Champions,” a comedy starring Kaling, in which she steals every scene. She portrays Britney, Vince’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Additionally, Makkar will appear in the upcoming ABC drama “The Fix.”
For “Corporate,” Aparna Nancherla
Nancherla, a stand-up comedian, has had a successful year, which started with her part as Grace on this sleeper hit Comedy Central program. Later this year, Nancherla, who also directed her own unique episode of Netflix’s “The Standups,” will embark on a tour.
The fifth is Hannah Simone for “New Girl”
Simone is up for a nomination for her final season playing Cece Parikh on the FOX sitcom. The final episode of “New Girl” in May provided us one of the few truly admirable depictions of an interracial relationship and an Indian-American character we could identify with and support. Simone performed exceptionally well on the show and developed along with her persona throughout time.
The Good Place’s Tiya Sircar, at number six
Similar to Kaling, Sircar is included twice on the nominations ballot. This is in recognition of her humorous Vicki performance on “The Good Place.” Vicki is a kind of devil who poses as a good person in order to torture people after they pass away. It is convoluted, if that makes sense. Fortunately, Sircar and “The Good Place” have the influence necessary to succeed.
Best Dramatic Supporting Actress:
For “The Magicians,” Summer Bishil
Bishil is the undisputed star of “The Magicians,” nailing every line of dialogue with a perfect blend of sarcasm and pathos. She portrays Margo, a Brakebills University magic student who later ascends to the position of queen regnant of Fillory, a different realm. For season 4, for which she is on the ballot, Bishil gave it her all.
Outstanding Comedy Guest Actor:
For “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” Aasif Mandvi
In this Neil Patrick Harris–starrer Netflix original comedy, Mandvi plays Uncle Monty. He is being considered for “Carnivorous Carnival: Part 1,” an episode from season 2.
2. For “Younger,” Aasif Mandvi
On the TV Land comedy starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff, Mandvi plays Jay Malick. He has been considered for the “A Close Shave” season 4 episode.
3. The Good Place’s Ajay Mehta
On the NBC sitcom starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and Jameela Jamil, Mehta plays Waqas Al-Jamil. He is being considered for “The Burrito,” an episode from season 2.
4. Life in Pieces, Ajay Mehta
In the CBS comedy starring Colin Hanks, Zoe Lister-Jones, and Thomas Sadoski, Mehta plays Dr. Patel. He is being considered for the episode “Testosterone Martyr Baked Knife” from season 3.
For “Portlandia,” Kumail Nanjiani
Over the course of the previous seven years, Nanjiani has portrayed a variety of characters on this sketch comedy series with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. He has been nominated for the season 8 episode “You Do You” in which he portrays a Disaster Hut employee.
Outstanding Dramatic Guest Actor:
For “The Chi,” Behzad Dabu
In this Showtime drama starring Jason Mitchell and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Dabu plays Amir. He is being considered for the “Penetrate A Fraud” episode of season 1.
For “The Brave,” Naren Weiss
On the now-cancelled NBC drama starring Mike Vogel and Anna Heche, Weiss plays Omar Gallull. He has been considered for the “It’s All Personal” season 1 episode.
Outstanding Dramatic Guest Actress:
In “Stranger Things,” Linnea Berthelson
In this Netflix thriller starring Millie Bobby Brown and Winona Ryder, Berthelsen plays Kali. She is being considered for “Chapter 7: The Lost Sister,” an episode from season 2.
Outstanding Comedy Direction:
For “Champions,” Geeta Patel
For “Champions,” starring Anders Holm, J.J. Totah, and Mouzam Makkar, Patel has directed two episodes. She has been considered for the “Vincemas” episode of season 1. She has directed episodes of “The Mindy Project,” “Superstore,” and “Fresh off the Boat,” among other shows.
For “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Kabir Akhtar
For “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” a television series starring Rachel Bloom and Donna Lynn Champlin, Akhtar has directed three episodes. He is offered for the “To Josh, With Love” season 3 episode. His other accomplishments include directing the 63rd annual Emmy Awards’ opening sequence.
For “The Last Man on Earth,” Nisha Ganatra
For the now-cancelled comedy “Last Man on Earth” on FOX, starring Will Forte and Kristen Schaal, Ganatra directed two episodes. She has been considered for the “Cancun, Baby!” season 4 episode. She has directed episodes of “Brooklyn 99,” “Better Things,” and “Transparent,” among other shows.
4. For “Young Sheldon,” Jaffar Mahmood
Iain Armitage and Zoe Perry’s “Young Sheldon,” a hit sitcom on CBS, has had five episodes directed by Mahmood. He is being considered for “A Mother, A Child, And A Blue Man’s Backside,” an episode from season 1. He has directed episodes of “The Middle,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” and “Brooklyn 99,” among other shows.
Outstanding Dramatic Direction:
For “Episode 4” of “Mindhunter,” Asif Kapadia
Jonathon Groff and Anna Torv’s “Mindhunter,” a Netflix serial killer drama, has had two episodes directed by Kapadia. He has been proposed for the first season’s “Episode 4” He has also directed documentaries such as “Senna” and “My World.”