Kunal Nayyar is a television actor best known for playing Raj Koothrappali on the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Appearing throughout all twelve seasons, he became one of the most recognizable South Asian faces on American television. The show’s enormous popularity introduced millions of viewers to an Indian-origin character as a central member of a mainstream ensemble cast. Nayyar’s long-running role marked a significant shift in representation and demonstrated that South Asian actors could achieve sustained success in network television’s most visible programs.
