“Missed a lot of births and deaths”: When Kunal Nayyar opened up about the sacrifices he made to play Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory

Kunal Nayyar became a household name with his portrayal of Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory. The actor played the role of the astrophysicist and appeared in all 12 seasons of the CBS sitcom from 2007 to 2019.

While the series earned him accolades and fame, Kunal also had to make certain sacrifices in his personal life to star in the show. The actor was brought up in India, where most of his family members still live.

In a 2022 interview on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, Kunal revealed how he missed some important occasions in his life as he was busy working on The Big Bang Theory. He said,

“People don't realize the sacrifice it takes to do an entire season, you know, and for me living away from my family in India, I had missed a lot of births and deaths and anniversaries.”

Kunal Nayyar once opened up about the personal sacrifices he made while working on The Big Bang Theory

In his interview, Kunal Nayyar was asked if he was satisfied with The Big Bang Theory concluding after 12 seasons. The actor said he felt it was the right time for the cast members to pursue other projects in their careers and also spend more time with their families, considering how he had missed some births and deaths in his own family for 12 years:

“I think it was time for all of us to move on and do other endeavors in our life.”

He added:

“It was time for me [and] for all of us to spend more time with our families.”

Kunal was born in London, England, to Indian-origin parents. His family moved back to India when he was just three. Kunal was brought up in New Delhi and moved to the US for studies at around 18 years.

He attended the University of Portland to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and joined acting classes simultaneously. In 2007, he landed the role of Rajesh Ramayan "Raj" Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory.

Talking about his audition process for the sitcom, Kunal said he was pretty confident in his abilities but got anxious when he got the audition:

“I had just graduated from getting my master’s [degree] so I was all high and mighty, you know like, ‘I’m an actor and I'm gonna do this’, I get this audition and my mind just sank.”

In the show, Raj is introduced as a socially awkward astrophysicist who struggles with selective mutism, which prevents him from speaking to women. His condition often becomes a topic of humor among his friends.

Raj is passionate about his work in the field of science but also enjoys indulging in pop culture. His close friendship with Howard Wolowitz and their bromance is another highlight of the show. Over time, Raj overcomes his mutism, allowing his personality to shine further.

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Apart from TBBT, Kunal has also been seen in shows like Suspicion, Night Court, Criminal: UK, The Mindy Project, and Sullivan & Son. His film credits include Sweetness in the Belly, Consumed, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

All seasons of The Big Bang Theory are available to stream on Max.

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