List of Master of None characters

Dev Shah (seasons 1-2; recurring season 3) is a struggling actor. He is portrayed by Aziz Ansari.

Dev returns in season 3 in a recurring role, now living in Queens with his new girlfriend Reshmi. After his acting career plateaued he had to move back in with his parents and start working as a delivery driver, putting a strain on his relationship.

Denise Watkins (portrayed by Lena Waithe) is Dev's friend and an aspiring novelist. Denise is a lesbian but initially closeted from her family. In the season 2 episode "Thanksgiving" she comes out to her mom. A flashback in the same episode also shows that Denise and Dev have been friends since childhood. In the first two seasons she works as a magazine columnist. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, Waithe said that her character was not originally intended to be African-American or gay but that Ansari wanted Denise's personality to reflect Waithe's own, so they rewrote her part.

In season 3, Denise is reveled to be a New York Times bestselling author, now living an idyllic life in upstate New York with her wife, Alicia. The season mainly follows her and Alicia as their marriage declines and Denise struggles to write her next book.

Arnold Baumheiser (portrayed by Eric Wareheim; seasons 1-2) is Dev's friend and a foodie. Wareheim notes that his character's friendship is based on his real-life friendship with Ansari.

Prior to the events of season one Arnold had a long-term relationship with his ex-girlfriend Ellen, whom he dated for 11 years. He is shown to still have feelings for her when he breaks down at her wedding and tries to antagonize the groom. But he eventually realizes that him and Ellen are different people now and the episode ends with him giving the couple his blessing.

Rachel Silva (season 1; guest season 2) is a music publicist and Dev's primary love interest in season 1. She is portrayed by Noël Wells.

The two initially hook up in the first episode but awkwardly part ways after his condom breaks during their tryst. When Dev runs into Rachel again at a nightclub, she states that she's trying to make things work with an ex-boyfriend. In "Nashville" Rachel texts Dev that her and her boyfriend have broken up, and the two begin dating. The two move in together in "Mornings" but cracks start to show in their relationship. Rachel breaks up with Dev and moves to Tokyo in "Finale" after Dev expresses uncertainty about the future of their relationship.

Francesca (portrayed by Alessandra Mastronardi; season 2) is a woman who Dev befriends in Italy and slowly falls in love with. Francesca initially denies any feelings for Dev, having recently gotten engaged to her longtime boyfriend Pino. However their relationship is reveled to be very strained. In "Buona Notte" Francesca considers if a relationship with Dev would ever be possible. The final scene pans to Dev and Francesca in bed together, her engagement ring no longer on her hand.

The two are implied to have broken up as Francesca makes no further appearances after season 2.

Alicia Jackson (portrayed by Naomi Ackie; season 3) is an antiques dealer and Denise's wife in season 3. The season follows her and Denise as their marriage slowly declines.

The two agree to have a baby together, using Denise's cousin Darius as a donor. However, once Alicia suffers a miscarriage their marriage becomes incredibly strained. This culminates in both of them cheating on each other and ultimately divorcing. Alicia, not getting any younger, decides to have a baby herself and finally becomes pregnant via IVF after a series of failed fertility treatments.

The season 3 finale "Moments in Love, Chapter 5" shows that Denise and Alicia have secretly rekindled their romance, despite both having married other women and having children since.

Brian Chang (portrayed by Kelvin Yu is Dev's friend, the son of Taiwanese immigrants.

Benjamin (portrayed by H. John Benjamin; season 1) is one of Dev's acting colleagues on The Sickening. Dev often looks to him for relationship advice because of his successful marriage.

Todd (portrayed by Todd Barry; season 1) is the director of The Sickening.

Lawrence (portrayed by Leonard Ouzts; season 2) is a producer on Clash of the Cupcakes.

Chef Jeff (portrayed by Bobby Cannavale; season 2) is a world-renown chef, tv-host, and producer of Clash of the Cupcakes. He later comes under fire when it comes to light that he sexually harassed several women working on the set of his show.

Pino (portrayed by Riccardo Scamarcio) is Francesca's boyfriend and later fiancé. Him and Francesca have been dating since childhood. Despite the proposal their relationship is shown to be strained as Pino isn't supportive of Francesca's ambitions.

In the season 2 finale "Buona Notte" Francesca breaks off their engagement.

Darius (portrayed by Anthony Welsh; season 3) is Denise's cousin and a close friend of Alicia. Denise and Alicia initially approach him, wanting him to be the donor for their baby. After they divorce him and Alicia are shown to still be close friends.

Ramesh and Nisha Shah (seasons 1-2) are Dev's parents. They are portrayed by Ansari's real-life parents, Shoukath and Fatima Ansari.