Kunal Nayyar left The Big Bang Theory cast frustrated when he ruined takes by breaking on camera.
Kunal, who played astrophysicist Rajesh “Raj” Koothrappali recalled the on-set dynamic during an appearance on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast.
The London-born actor was part of the main cast that included Jim Parsons as Sheldon, Johnny Galecki as Leonard, Simon Helberg’s aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and Kaley Cuoco as their neighbor Penny.
Kunal said he “was the worst in the beginning on the show” because he “broke all the time.”
“It really pissed everyone off, but I couldn’t help it. I would also break a lot of my own jokes, which is funny. But I mean, how can you [not], Simon is a genius,” he said, recalling a scene with Simon Helberg’s Howard, who was his onscreen best friend.
Singing praise of his costar, he said “the beauty of Simon as an actor and a performer – even a simple line like, ‘Friday works for me.’ Just the cadence, like, ‘Friday works for me!'”
He said working with Simon made it “very hard for me to keep a straight face.”
The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons on CBS between 2007 and 2029. Kunal and the rest of the cast stayed for all seasons of the sitcom.
