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Kunal Nayyar
English actor (born 1981)

Kunal Nayyar is a British-American actor best known for his role as the Indian character Raj Koothrappali on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019). He also voiced Vijay on the Nickelodeon animated show Sanjay and Craig (2013–2016). Nayyar earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2021 British Academy Television Awards for his performance in Criminal: UK. According to Forbes, he was among the highest-paid TV actors in 2015 and 2018, with a net worth estimated at $45 million. The asteroid 8627 Kunalnayyar is named in his honor.

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Early life

Nayyar was born on 30 April, 1981 in the Hammersmith district of West London, to Indian parents.78 When he was three years old, his family returned to India and he grew up in New Delhi, where his parents live.91011 He attended St. Columba's School in Gole Market, where he played badminton for the school team.1213

In 1999, Nayyar moved to the United States to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at the University of Portland in Oregon.14 He started taking acting classes and appeared in several school plays while working on his degree.15

After participating in the American College Theater Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Nayyar decided to become an actor. He then attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting.16

Career

After graduating, Nayyar found work doing American television ads and plays on the London stage.17 He first gained attention in the US for his role in the West Coast production of Rajiv Joseph's 2006 play Huck & Holden, where he portrayed an Indian exchange student anxious to experience American culture before returning home.18 In 2006, Nayyar teamed up with Arun Das to write the play Cotton Candy, which premiered in New Delhi to positive reviews.19

Nayyar made a guest appearance on the CBS drama NCIS in the season four episode "Suspicion", in which he played Youssef Zidan, an Iraqi terrorist.20

In 2007, Nayyar's agent heard about a role for a scientist in an upcoming CBS pilot and encouraged him to audition for the part. This led to his casting in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, where he played the role of astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali from its premiere in September 2007 to the show's conclusion in May 2019.21

In 2011, he co-hosted the Tribute to Nerds show with co-star Simon Helberg at the comedy festival Just for Laughs.22

Nayyar voiced Gupta in Ice Age: Continental Drift in 2012. During the same year, he completed the shooting of the film, Dr. Cabbie, produced by Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

In 2013, he produced a documentary called Beyond All Boundaries, which focuses on three individuals and their love for cricket in India: Sudhir bikes across the country to support his team; Prithvi is a young cricket prodigy; and Akshaya is a female cricketer from the Mumbai slums.23

From 5 May to 29 June 2015, Nayyar performed in an off-Broadway production, The Spoils, written by and starring actor Jesse Eisenberg. Nayyar played Kalyan, a Nepalese student and roommate of the protagonist Ben, played by Eisenberg.24 The production transferred to London's West End in 2016.

Nayyar published a book about his career journey, titled Yes, My Accent is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven’t Told You, in September 2015.25

He voiced another animated movie character named Guy Diamond in DreamWorks' Trolls, released in November 2016.

In 2020, Nayyar played a convicted serial killer named Sandeep on the Netflix UK production Criminal: UK. He appeared in the final episode of Season 2, which was released in August 2020. In the same year, he joined the cast of the thriller TV series Suspicion on Apple TV+, based on the Israeli thriller TV series False Flag, alongside Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Henstridge and Elyes Gabel.26

In 2021, he was announced as having been picked to play the title role of A. J. Fikry in the upcoming comedy-drama The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, alongside Lucy Hale and Christina Hendricks, an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Gabrielle Zevin.27

In 2024, Nayyar reunited with Big Bang Theory costar, Melissa Rauch, making a guest appearance on an episode of Night Court.28 Night Court is a revival of the '80s NBC sitcom of the same name.29

Personal life

In December 2011, Nayyar married Neha Kapur, a model and Femina Miss India 2006.30 According to the University of Portland, Nayyar and his wife have given scholarships for University of Portland students in Performing & Fine Arts and paid for guest artists at the university.31

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleDirector(s)Notes
2004S.C.I.E.N.C.EPizza ManJordan Noce
2012Ice Age: Continental DriftGuptaSteve Martino & Mike ThurmeierVoice
2013Beyond All BoundariesNarrator
2014The ScribblerKarimJohn Suits
Dr. CabbieTonyJean-François Pouliot
2015ConsumedSerge NeganiDaryl Wein
2016TrollsGuy DiamondMike MitchellVoice
2019Sweetness in the BellyDr. Robin SathiZeresenay Berhane Mehari
2020Trolls World TourGuy DiamondWalt DohrnVoice
Think Like a DogMr. MillsGil Junger
2022The Storied Life of A.J. FikryA.J. FikryHans Canosa
2023Trolls Band TogetherGuy DiamondWalt DohrnVoice32
2024SpacemanPeterJohan Renck
How to Date Billy WalshRupert Brown
TBAChristmas KarmaGurinder Chadha

Television

YearSeriesRoleNotes
2007NCISYoussef ZidanEpisode: "Suspicion"
2007–2019The Big Bang TheoryRaj KoothrappaliMain role
2010The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonHimself
2013–2016Sanjay and CraigVijay (voice)Main role
2013–2014Sullivan & SonSanjay/NealEpisode: "Ladies Night", "Sexual Healing"
2015The Late Late ShowHost25–27 February
The Mindy ProjectSendhilEpisode: "While I Was Sleeping"
2016Ice Age: The Great Egg-ScapadeGupta (cameo/flashback)TV special
2017Trolls HolidayGuy Diamond (voice)
Drop the MicHimselfEpisode: "Mayim Bialik vs. Kunal Nayyar / Ashley Tisdale vs. Nick Lachey"
2020Criminal: UKSandeep SinghEpisode: "Sandeep"
2021Trolls: Holiday in HarmonyGuy Diamond (voice)TV special
2022SuspicionAadesh ChopraMain role
2024Night CourtMartini ToddwallisEpisode: "A Crime of Fashion"

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Huck and HoldenNaveenDahlia Theater, Los Angeles, United States
Love's Labour's LostOther PartsRoyal Shakespeare Company, Stratford upon Avon, United Kingdom
Love's Labour's LostOther PartsShakespeare Theatre Company, Lansburgh Theatre, Washington, DC, United States
2015The SpoilsKalyanThe New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center, New York, United States
2016The SpoilsKalyanTrafalgar Studios, London

Awards

YearAwardCategoryTitleResult
2006Garland AwardsBest Male Lead in a Play on the West CoastHuck and HoldenWon
2011Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNominated
2012Nominated
2013Nominated
2014Nominated
2015Nominated
2016Nominated
2017Nominated
2021British Academy Television AwardsBest Supporting ActorCriminal: UKNominated
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References

  1. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (17 May 2019). "'The Big Bang Theory' Cast Together For One Final Time". Event occurs at 0:32. Retrieved 22 January 2024 – via YouTube. /wiki/The_Late_Show_with_Stephen_Colbert

  2. Wolf, Matt (19 June 2016). "Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar on Becoming Buddies with Co-Star Jesse Eisenberg in London's The Spoils". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved 22 December 2023. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/185230/big-bang-theorys-kunal-nayyar-on-becoming-buddies-with-co-star-jesse-eisenberg-in-londons-the-spoils/

  3. McGarth, Maggie. "The World's Highest-Paid TV Actors". Forbes. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2020. https://www3.forbes.com/business/the-worlds-highest-paid-tv-actors-2015/12/

  4. Robehmed, Natalie. "Highest-Paid TV Actors 2018". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/10/24/highest-paid-tv-actors-2018-jim-parsons-leads-with-26-5-million/

  5. "Kunal Nayyar - Latest News, Updates, Photos and Videos". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/topics/kunal-nayyar/

  6. "IAU Minor Planet Center". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 11 October 2024. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=8627

  7. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=NShO606NpdTIkwEMm2DViQ&scan=1

  8. Mike Rose, cleveland com (30 April 2024). "Famous birthdays list for today, April 30, 2024 includes celebrities Kirsten Dunst, Ana de Armas". cleveland. Retrieved 1 June 2024. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/04/famous-birthdays-list-for-today-april-30-2024-includes-celebrities-kirsten-dunst-ana-de-armas.html

  9. Kapoor, Kritika (25 June 2010). "I'd rather do social movies: Kunal Nayyar". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_i-d-rather-do-social-movies-kunal-nayyar_1400993

  10. Ahmed, Sana (28 June 2008). "Going places". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131005020234/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/28/stories/2008062850570400.htm

  11. Nayyar, Kunal (2015). Yes, My Accent Is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven't Told You. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1476761824. 978-1476761824

  12. "25 Fun Facts About Kunal Nayyar | The Big Bang Theory". The Fact Site. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020. https://www.thefactsite.com/kunal-nayyar-facts/

  13. Singh, Prashant (14 October 2013). "Salman Khan has done such amazing things for our industry: Kunal Nayyar". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518125610/http://www.hindustantimes.com/television/salman-khan-has-done-such-amazing-things-for-our-industry-kunal-nayyar/article1-1134835.aspx

  14. Successful Actors Talk About Their Training Archived 11 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. backstage.com. Retrieved on 17 November 2012. http://www.backstage.com/news/successful-actors-talk-about-their-training

  15. Nayyar, Kunal (2015). Yes, My Accent Is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven't Told You. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1476761824. 978-1476761824

  16. "Making it as a nerd". Rediff. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/19look.htm

  17. Sahgal, Natasha (16 September 2009). "Geek God". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2011. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/geek-god/517505/1

  18. "Making it as a nerd". Rediff. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/19look.htm

  19. Chander, Romesh (16 June 2006). "Staging the fluff of dreams". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110417090654/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/06/16/stories/2006061601800300.htm

  20. D'Arminio, Aubry (29 March 2016). "7 NCIS Guests Who Went on to Become Stars (PHOTOS)". tvinsider.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016. http://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/76497/ncis-guest-stars-before-fame-photos/#2

  21. Banerjee, Sudeshna (7 July 2008). "Mr Big Bang". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120529002914/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080707/jsp/entertainment/story_9512204.jsp

  22. Wyatt, Nelson (26 July 2011). "'Big Bang Theory' stars say most people can relate to being nerds". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110914120224/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/TV/126179733.html

  23. "Kunal Nayyar". alumni.temple.edu. Retrieved 7 February 2024. https://alumni.temple.edu/s/705/alumni/16/interior.aspx?pgid=7705

  24. Brantley, Ben (2 June 2015). "'Review: 'The Spoils' Stars Jesse Eisenberg as Narcissist". New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/theater/review-the-spoils-stars-jesse-eisenberg-as-narcissist.html?_r=0

  25. Nayyar, Kunal (2015). Yes, My Accent Is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven't Told You. Atria Books. ISBN 978-1476761824. 978-1476761824

  26. White, Peter (11 March 2020). "Uma Thurman To Headline Apple Drama Series 'Suspicion', Based On Israeli Thriller 'False Flag'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2021. https://deadline.com/2020/03/uma-thurman-apple-drama-series-suspicion-israeli-false-flag-remake-1202879240/

  27. Diana Lodderhose (16 June 2021). "Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale & Christina Hendricks To Star In 'The Storied Life Of A. J. Fikry', Mister Smith Launching Sales – Cannes Market". Deadline. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021. https://deadline.com/2021/06/kunal-nayyar-lucy-hale-christina-hendricks-to-star-in-the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry-mister-smith-launching-sales-cannes-market-1234776179/

  28. "Everything to Know About Actor Kunal Nayyar". NBC Insider Official Site. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/who-is-kunal-nayyar-night-court

  29. "Everything to Know About Actor Kunal Nayyar". NBC Insider Official Site. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/who-is-kunal-nayyar-night-court

  30. "The Talk, CBS". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022155132/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoR5Xdk7kbs

  31. "Kunal Nayyar | University of Portland". www.up.edu. Retrieved 7 February 2024. https://www.up.edu/commencement/honorary-degrees/nayyar.html

  32. "Trolls Band Together". Universal Pictures. Retrieved 23 August 2023. https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/trolls-band-together