By Arun Kumar

Washington, Nov 17 (IANS) Indian-American actor Kal Penn, who is best known for his role in the "Harold and Kumar" movies, has returned to the White House after a five month break to film the third picture in the series.

Penn is returning to the Office of Public Engagement to work as an associate director, ABC News reported citing White House spokesman Shin Inouye.

He will "be the point person for those in the Arts, Youth, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities," Inouye said.

Penn, who played the lead role in Indian-American director Mira Nair's film, "The Namesake", goes by his given name Kalpen Modi in Washington. He has been in and out of the political world in the last few years.

After campaigning on behalf of then-candidate Barack Obama in the 2008 campaign cycle, Penn left the television show "House" in mid-2009 for a similar job in the Office of Public Engagement that began in July of that year.

Penn resigned that post on June 1, 2010, to fulfil his commitment to film the latest, Christmas-themed "Harold and Kumar" film instalment, according to CNN. The new movie, "A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas" is set for release during holiday season 2011.

Penn signalled his return to politics with appearances at a number of Democratic rallies around the country in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections Nov 2.