Kunal Nayyar Biography

Kunal Nayyar is a British-Indian actor and philanthropist best known for playing astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali on the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, a role he held from the show’s 2007 premiere until its finale in 2019. Born on April 30, 1981 in London and raised in New Delhi, he moved to the United States in 1999 to study business at the University of Portland before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Temple University, where his passion for performance took over from his original finance ambitions.

After early stage work and commercials, Kunal drew critical attention in Rajiv Joseph’s play Huck & Holden and co‑wrote the play Cotton Candy, which opened in New Delhi to positive reviews, helping establish him as a rising talent on both sides of the Atlantic. His breakthrough came when he was cast as Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory, a role that turned him into a global television star and earned him multiple Screen Actors Guild ensemble nominations as the series became one of the most-watched comedies in the world.

Leveraging his success on television, Kunal expanded into film and voice work, voicing the pirate Gupta in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and contributing to animated projects such as the TV series Sanjay and Craig, the animated movies Trolls (2016), Cars 3 (2017) and Trolls Band Together (2023), while also appearing in features like Dr. Cabbie (2014) and The Scribbler (2014). On stage, he starred in Jesse Eisenberg's play The Spoils off‑Broadway and in plays in London's West End, further showcasing his range beyond sitcom comedy.

In recent years, Kunal has pivoted toward darker and more dramatic material, notably playing a convicted serial killer named Sandeep in the Netflix crime anthology Criminal: UK, which earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also joined the 2022 Apple TV thriller Suspicion alongside Uma Thurman. He authored the memoir Yes, My Accent Is Real, reflecting on his journey from New Delhi to Hollywood and offering an often humorous, self‑aware look at identity, immigration, and success in the entertainment industry.

Beyond his screen and stage work, Nayyar has quietly cultivated a reputation for philanthropy, acknowledging that he frequently supports GoFundMe campaigns for families’ medical expenses and contributes to animal welfare causes and student scholarships. Splitting his time between demanding roles and charitable efforts, he continues to evolve from sitcom favorite to versatile character actor, while remaining a visible figure in global pop culture for fans who first met him as the shy, big‑hearted Raj.

Filmography:

Christmas Karma (2025)
How to Date Billy Walsh (2024)
Spaceman (2024)
Trolls Band Together (2023)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (2022)
Thing Like a Dog (2020)
Trolls World Tour (2020)
Sweetness in the Belly (2019)
Cars 3 (2017)
Trolls (2016)
Consumed (2015)
Dr. Cabbie (2014)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)