Anoop Desai

Season 8 · Eliminated 6th–7th

Where are they now

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.

Key figures

Career score11 points of 100Rank on Encore Index: #126 (tie) of 688
Studio albums1 studio albumRank on Encore Index: #124 (tie) of 238
Wikipedia views, 12 months26,198 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #108 of 303
Wikipedia views since 2015309,789 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #122 of 303

Known for

All Is FairEP · 2010; 900 copies sold in the U.S. (reported)Sales as of May 12, 2010

Interest over time

Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, July 2015 – September 2026.

Djinn in Shadows episodeUnder the Bridge premiereBabygirl opens in theaters

Career

2009
American Idol, season 8
Eliminated 6th–7th
January 13 – April 22, 2009
2009
Tour · July 5, 2009 – September 15, 2009
Desai was on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009, which ran from July 5 to September 15, 2009.
2010
Release · March 23, 2010
He released the single My Name on March 23, 2010.
2011
2012
Other
In 2012, Desai began writing and performing under the pseudonym TOTEM.
2012
Release · November 13, 2012
He released the single Love War, featuring Adhd, on November 13, 2012.
2013–2015
2016
Tour
In 2016, he headlined the BMI stage at Lollapalooza.
2017
2018
Broadway
In 2018, Desai was offered a role in the developmental lab of the Broadway-bound production of The Secret Garden.
2019
Broadway
In 2019, Desai made his Off-Broadway debut at MCC Theater in The Wrong Man.
2020
Television
In 2020, Desai appeared on Billions as Dev Satyal.
2020
Television
In 2020, Desai appeared on Little Voice as Ravi.
2021
2022
Television · 2022 – 2023
He 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.
2022
Television
In 2022, Desai appeared on Evil as Larry.
2022
Television
In 2022, Desai appeared on Russian Doll as Salim.
2023
Acting
In 2023, Desai made his film debut in The Adults, as Josh.
2024
Television
He played Raj Masihajjar in 6 episodes of Under the Bridge (2024).
2024
Acting
He played Robert in Babygirl (2024).
2025
Television
He played Ben Harris in St. Denis Medical (2025).

More milestones

Date not documented
Other
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.
Date not documented
Other
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).

Discography

Releases of Anoop Desai
Title	Type	Year	Label	RIAA certification	U.S. sales
All Is Fair	EP	2010	Independent	Not documented	900May 12, 2010
Zero.0	Album	2011	Independent	Not documented	Not documented
3 Cheers	EP	2012	Independent	Not documented	Not documented

Sources

Anoop Desai (Wikipedia revision 1362842795) — Wikipedia, July 6, 2026.
'Idol' boosts Connick, Sinatra sales — USA Today (Idol Chatter), May 12, 2010.
American Idol season 8 — Wikipedia, August 31, 2026.
List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, June 10, 2026.
What We Do In The Shadows: Anoop Desai Joins Season 4 As Recurring — Deadline, June 30, 2022.
Monthly pageviews of the English Wikipedia article "Anoop Desai", July 2015 – September 2026 — Wikimedia Foundation.
The Wedding (What We Do in the Shadows) — Wikipedia.
Under the Bridge episode 1 recap — Esquire, April 17, 2024.
Babygirl — Wikipedia.

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