Kunal Nayyar Recalls Tight 'The Big Bang Theory' Schedule, Including Round Trip to India for Grandmother's Funeral (Exclusive)
Kunal Nayyar Recalls Tight 'The Big Bang Theory' Schedule, Including Round Trip to India for Grandmother's Funeral (Exclusive)
Yamillah HurtadoFri, June 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM UTC
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Kunal Nayyar in 'The Big Bang Theory'Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS -
Kunal Nayyar opens up about The Big Bang Theory's tight filming schedule
The actor, who played Rajesh Koothrappali on the hit show, revealed he once flew to India for his grandmother's funeral and returned the 'next day' to continue filming
"[I] couldn't miss any days," Nayyar said in a preview for the June 15 episode of The Official The Big Bang Theory podcast
Kunal Nayyar shares the reality of filming The Big Bang Theory.
In an exclusive clip from the Monday, June 15 episode of The Official The Big Bang Theorypodcast, the actor, 45, reveals how the show's tight filming schedule didn't allow him and his costars to take much time off.
While speaking to host Jessica Radloff, Nayyar recounts the moment he had to fly back home to India for his grandmother's funeral during production and return the following day to continue filming.
"I had finished my scenes for the day, and I went up to [creators] Chuck [Lorre] and Bill [Prady], and I said, 'Hey, can I leave? Because my grandmother has passed and I'm gonna fly to India tonight or tomorrow morning,'" he recalls. "I flew home to India, and you get there one and a half days later. [I went] to the funeral and flew back the next day. Rehearsed one day and shot an episode."
"[I] just didn't miss one day, [I] couldn't miss any days," Nayyar, 45, says, explaining that he and his costars "never had the luxury" to call out.
Kunal Nayyar in 'The Big Bang Theory'Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS
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Elsewhere in the clip, Nayyar shares that it's easy to forget that the stars of The Big Bang Theory, or any show, are going through things off-screen that viewers never see.
"I think what people don't realize is audiences fall in love with the characters, but behind those characters are humans who are playing those characters," he explains. "The humans behind the mask are living very similar emotional and psychological lives as everyone else in the world, which is happiness and sadness and joy and depression, death, sickness, everything."
From left: Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Simon Helberg and Kevin Sussman in 'The Big Bang Theory'Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS/Getty
The British-born Indian actor starred in the hit CBS sitcom throughout its 12-season run as Rajesh "Raj" Koothrappali, an astrophysicist who was best friends with Howard Wolowitz, played by Simon Helberg. Along with Nayyar and Helberg, The Big Bang Theory starred Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Kaley Cuoco as Penny, Melissa Rauch as Bernadette Rostenkowski and Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler.
The series premiered in 2007 and ran until its series finale in 2019. It has since spawned three spinoffs: Young Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, premiering July 23 on HBO Max.
The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast returned with new episodes on May 18, and is currently delving into behind-the-scenes stories from seasons 3 and 4 as host and author Radloff sits down with the show's stars for all the inside scoop. Fans can watch video episodes on HBO Max, YouTube and Spotify or listen wherever podcasts are available.
All seasons of The Big Bang Theory are streaming on HBO Max.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
