Adarsh Gourav is the only Indian actor in Alien: Earth, now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India after its U.S. debut on Hulu and FX. He plays Slightly, a synthetic child navigating a dark, dystopian world, earning praise for the emotional depth of his performance. This role marks a major milestone, placing an Indian actor at the center of the iconic Alien franchise.
Born in July 1994 in Jamshedpur, Gourav moved to Mumbai at 13 and trained extensively in Hindustani classical music and tabla. He performed in indie bands like Steepsky and Oak Island and appeared on MTV Indies, building a music-focused foundation before transitioning fully into acting.
Gourav began acting after being mentored at Ajivasan, performing in stage productions across Mumbai. He made his screen debut in 2010 with My Name Is Khan, portraying the younger version of Shah Rukh Khan’s character. His early career also included performing alongside Ilaiyaraaja and Sukhwinder Singh.
After training at The Drama School Mumbai, Gourav steadily worked in films and web series like Mom, Rukh, Madly, Leila, and Die Trying. His breakout role came in The White Tiger (2021) as Balram Halwai, earning BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award nominations. He prepared for the role by working at a tea stall to ensure authenticity.
Since then, Gourav has appeared internationally in projects with Meryl Streep and Kit Harington, and domestically in Hostel Daze, Guns & Gulaabs, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. Alien: Earth further establishes him as a prominent South Asian actor in global sci-fi cinema.