Dev Patel, a renowned actor, has found himself at the center of an unexpected lookalike contest. This event, which took place at Dolores Park in San Francisco on Nov. 10, has sparked quite a buzz. Patel, now 34 years old, shared his thoughts with Variety about this unique occurrence.

"Dev Patel's Lookalike Contest: A Celebration of Diversity"

Section 1: The Surprise and Overwhelm

Patel was genuinely taken aback by the turnout of the lookalike contest. As he mentioned, "I'm surprised more than five people showed up. I was quite overwhelmed by it and very touched." It was a moment that left him in awe of the community's interest.This event was one of many celebrity lookalike competitions that have emerged since October's viral Timothée Chalamet contest. The fact that it gained such attention was a testament to the power of such gatherings.

Section 2: The Humble Winner

Jaipreet Hundal, the winner of the Dev Patel lookalike contest, is a 25-year-old from San Jose. He received a giant $50 check, a "Monkey Man" statue, and a bouquet of flowers. Hundal's speech after winning was both humorous and heartfelt. He said, "Shoutout to all the Dev Patel lookalikes. If the real Dev Patel shows up, I don't know who would win, me or him." This shows his humility and respect for the original.The competition was hosted by Sitara Bellam, 26, and Tasnim Khandakar, 27. Bellam told NBC News that she was "genuinely blown away by the crowd and the interest in the event." She had planned it "on a whim as a joke" and promoted it with "a single flier up in Berkeley," yet it managed to draw hundreds of people.

Section 3: Spotlighting Diversity

Unlike Timothée Chalamet, who crashed his own competition, Patel was a no-show at his namesake event. However, he still believes that the lookalike contest was a way to spotlight diversity. As he said, "Hopefully, I am just the gateway to this happening to all sorts of brilliant actors of different races and genders. 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."This contest not only brought people together but also highlighted the importance of celebrating different cultures and backgrounds. It showed that such events can have a positive impact on society.Patel's next film, Rabbit Trap, will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This further adds to his already impressive career.