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Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role as Dr. Raj Koothrappali on the long-running CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, opened up about the intense commitment required during the show’s 12-season run, which concluded in 2019.
In a June 2026 episode of The Big Bang Theory Podcast, Nayyar revealed that taking time off was nearly impossible while filming the hit series. He recounted a particularly difficult moment when his grandmother passed away during a shoot. Despite the loss, Nayyar said he barely took any time away from the set.
“We never had the luxury over 12 years to call in sick, you know. Or if someone passes away.
You don’t,” Nayyar explained. “My family lives in India.
I remember my grandmother passed away during a taping of Big Bang.”
After finishing his scenes that day, he approached the show’s creators, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, to request time off. “I said, ‘Hey, can I leave?
Because my grandmother’s passed, and I’m going to fly to India tonight or tomorrow morning,’” he recalled. Nayyar flew to India, attended the funeral a day and a half later, and returned the very next day to rehearse and film, managing not to miss a single day on set.
He also highlighted the dedication of his co-stars, pointing out that Kaley Cuoco, who portrayed Penny, returned quickly after a serious leg injury in 2010. “I think Kaley broke her leg, and she missed like one episode. We used a body double, and she came right back,” Nayyar said.
Reflecting on the experience, Nayyar emphasized the importance of remembering that the beloved characters are portrayed by real people. “Audiences fall in love with the characters, but behind those characters are humans who are playing them. And those humans live lives filled with happiness, sadness, joy, depression, death, sickness-everything,” he said during the podcast.
His candid insights offer a deeper appreciation for the dedication behind one of television’s most popular sitcoms.