Vivek Shah is one of the main characters in the original Freeform series Grown-ish, which is a spinoff of the ABC series, Black-ish.
Character Info[]
Vivek Shah is a first-generation Gujarati Indian American. His parents are devout Hindus. Vivek’s parents immigrated to the United States so he could graduate from an American University. He is a drug dealer to support his fashion choices. Before he got expelled from Cal U, he was going to be the first Shah to graduate from college. He is an engineering major and has shown great intelligence throughout the series. He is best known for constantly failing to get laid and having a style that is highly influenced by black culture.
Grown-ish (Season 1)[]
In the first season, Vivek is shown to be the closest to Zoey and Nomi, as they all three hung out together often. He was revealed to be a very smart and successful drug dealer. Arjun Shah, his father, fled a third world country, developed a high level understanding of English, put his son through college and worships his wife. All that aside, Vivek has shown disdain towards his father’s career choice as a cab driver. He thinks his father is a smart man but has no ambition and he resents him for it. Vivek has a desperation with trying to get laid and fails miserably. Vivek goes down a dark path when he gets involved with the richest kid at Cal U, Balty Winthrop. When he starts dealing drugs for him, he starts getting VIP access and soon becomes popular. Vivek amps it up and begins dealing coke, which forces Zoey to warn him about going too far and that Winthrop was just using him. Vivek expresses to her that when he’s with them, he doesn’t feel like the cab driver’s son. Vivek learns his lesson when he ends up in the hospital after getting jumped during a deal. Zoey protects Vivek’s image to his parents by lying and saying they were both robbed and he got beat up from protecting her. Vivek is grateful to Zoey but still decides to sell drugs, just not the heavy stuff.
Grown-ish (Season 2)[]
Vivek develops a strong bond and friendship with both Aaron Jackson and Doug Edwards in the second season. Vivek is still struggling with his non existent love life, as he continues to get no action and has become more and more desperate. The same way Zoey was there for Vivek in season one, he is there for her during the betrayal she faced from Ana Torres. After being kicked out of the Winthrop house, he starts crashing at Hawkins. When Doug picks up on Vivek getting a little too comfortable, he calls him out on culture appropriating. Vivek is hurt by the statement but apologizes and makes it known that it was never his intention to hurt anyone. When Doug feels bad about maybe being a little too harsh on him, Vivek admits he has always struggled with who he is and everything he does is all part of running away from the poor, nerdy kid who never fit in. They come to an understanding and make up.
Grown-ish (Season 3)[]
Vivek is now living in a house with all of the girls in the friend group. He is paying most of the bills, due to his wealth from being a drug dealer. When Doug and Jazz try to help him find someone on dating websites, he gets a date but still nothing comes from it. Eventually, Vivek starts to brag about getting laid, which none of his friends believe but he’s ultimately proven to be telling the truth. He met someone named Heidi and she is his first real girlfriend. Vivek experiments with his sexuality when he has a threesome with Heidi and a guy named Alex but realizes he’s not into guys. When his friends don’t believe he isn’t gay, it causes a rift between them until Nomi educates them, leading them to apologize to Vivek and make up. When living a double life as himself and a drug dealer becomes too overwhelming, he decides to quit. Unfortunately, his quitting is too little too late because the season ends with Vivek being caught with drugs in his car by the cops.
Grown-ish (Season 4)[]
Vivek goes on vacation to Mexico with his friends after his arrest and breakup with Heidi. When he returns, he finds out he is expelled from school after being caught with drugs. The school notifies his parents and when they visit, he confesses his drug dealing over the past couple of years, which lead to his arrest and expulsion. His parents are both disappointed to hear this but his mother ultimately embraces him, but his father makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the person he has become and disowns him. Vivek becomes friends with Javi and gives him advice regarding his relationship with Ana Torres. When he gives Javi a gift to give Ana, she is offended that Vivek knows her more than her own boyfriend. Vivek is shocked to learn that he’s the most sexually active single person in their house. In an effort to help his roommates get laid, he ends up sleeping with Ana.
Relationships[]
Heidi - It is unknown how Vivek and Heidi met. It is revealed that Vivek is dating someone, when his roommates overhear them having sex. Things are going well for them and they have nicknames for each other but things take a turn when Vivek gets distracted by his drug dealing when he’s suppose to be having fun with Heidi. When he’s prepared to tell her the truth, he backs out and lies. They experience taking ecstasy together and have a threesome. When they’re driving and discussing a planned trip over the summer, cop sirens go off and want them to pull over. Heidi tries to calm Vivek down until she finds his stash of drugs, when the cops come up to the car. It’s revealed Heidi broke up with Vivek after finding out he was a drug dealer.
Ana Torres - Vivek and Ana have been good friends for a long time, due to them being in the same friend group. In season 4, their dynamic takes a turn. Vivek gives Ana’s boyfriend Javi a gift to give Ana and she loves it. When she finds out, the gift was Vivek’s idea, she is saddened by the fact that he knows her better than her boyfriend. After Ana and Javi breakup, Vivek tries to help her and Nomi get laid. When it doesn’t work out by the end of the night, Vivek and Ana end up sleeping together and Ana instructs him that they can never speak about it ever.
Quotes[]
- "Your dick will bring a woman to tears.” Vivek to Aaron in If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
- "Black women are at the top of my list. There is nothing sexier than a strong, independent, confident woman.” Vivek to the group in It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
- "You’re insane. Why are you not hooking up with other girls? So many options, so little time.” Vivek to Aaron in Tweakin'
- "All this extra stuff, you know— the labels, the drug dealing, it’s… it’s all part running away from the poor, nerdy kid who never fit in.” Vivek to Doug in Strictly 4 My...
- "Yeah, but when I start, okay, I don’t plan on stopping, okay? I will be living inside the vagina.” Vivek to Doug in Public Service Announcement
- "Okay, my point is, all guys have this drumbeat in our heads, telling us we need sex, okay? The one that goes I…need…to…bust. Here. There. Everywhere.” Javi to Ana, Jazz and Sky in Hard Place
- "I love you. And I promise, I’m not that person anymore. And from here on out, there’ll be no more lies, so we can start rebuilding our relationship.” Vivek being honest to his parents about being a drug dealer in Daddy Lessons
- "See, after years and years of unsuccessfully trying to get laid, I’ve developed a radar. I can tell exactly who is down to get laid and who is going to be a complete and total waste of your time.” Vivek to Ana and Nomi in You Beat Me to the Punch
Trivia[]
- Drake is his hero.
- Has expressed a romantic interest for African-American women.