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In May 2023, it’s going to be exactly four years since Kunal Nayyar last stepped into the shoes of Rajesh “Raj” Koothrappali on the famous CBS sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. Raj was depicted in the series as a quirky astrophysicist who is known for his social awkwardness and selective mutism, which often leads to comical situations.
The character’s disorder made it difficult for him to speak in certain situations, particularly in the presence of women. Series co-creator Bill Prady would later come to confirm that this particular quirk of Raj’s was actually inspired by a real-life person. The condition also made for a very messy situation when it came to his love life, to the extent that the writers decided to keep him single at the end of the show.
When Nayyar’s co-star Jim Parsons decided to leave Big Bang — and consequently brought about the end for the show — not everyone in the cast line-up was happy with him. For Nayyar, however, he admitted that it was like a “weight had been lifted off” his shoulders.
In the years after the end of Big Bang, Nayyar has continued to take on different opportunities to further his acting career, including roles in movies like Trolls World Tour, Think Like a Dog and the upcoming Spaceman. He also starred in the main role of the limited British thriller TV show Suspicion, which aired on Apple TV Plus.
What Role Does Kunal Nayyar Play In Suspicion?
After nearly three years of pre-production and production work, Suspicion finally premiered on Apple TV Plus in February 2022. With a total of eight episodes in its sole season, the show ran on the streaming platform for seven weeks until mid-March. The series was developed based on the Israeli version, titled False Flag.
The plot of Suspicion centers around the abduction of the son of Katherine Newman, a prominent American businesswoman who discovers that her son Leonardo has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. As the investigation unfolds, she starts to realize that the people closest to her may have had a hand in the abduction. The role of Katherine was played by Uma Thurman, who was also the first major cast member to be announced in 2020.
Kunal Nayyar featured in the miniseries as Aadesh Chopra, one of five people whose lives are “turned upside down after being identified by London police as suspects in the kidnapping and subsequent disappearance of Leonardo.” Georgina Campbell and Elyes Gabel are among other members of the Suspicion cast.
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How Was Kunal Nayyar’s Experience In Suspicion Different From His Time On The Big Bang Theory?
Rajesh Koothrappali and Aadesh Chopra are two significantly different people. One mark of a great actor is being able to embody completely contrasting characters, and equally make the audience believe that they are each of those parts respectively. In this regard, Kunal Nayyar took on the task at hand and passed in flying colors.
Yet in the same way his two characters were night and day, he also found a completely different experience on the set of Suspicion than he had on The Big Bang Theory. To start with, as a sitcom, Big Bang only required one main location to film all episodes. An international crime thriller, on the other hand, demands movement to different sets in different countries to execute.
This was one of the elements that made Suspicion a lot more arduous than TBBT. “It’s challenging [to film in multiple locations] because the elements are so unknown, right?” Nayyar said in an interview with Digital Spy shortly before the release of the series.
Shooting Suspicion In The Midst Of A Pandemic Was Also Challenging For Kunal Nayyar
Another challenge that Kunal Nayyar and his castmates faced was having to film Suspicion at the height of the global outbreak of COVID-19. It was also particularly difficult because the setting of the show did not involve the pandemic, and the actors had to adjust accordingly.
“Remember, we were shooting in a time where everyone on the street is wearing a mask, but in the show, that’s not the circumstances,” Nayyar told Digital Spy. “So there were a lot of challenges during that time, but I think that there was a real sense of achievement in that we pulled it off.”
So daunting was the process of making the show that the actor at some point doubted whether they could actually see the process through. “When I think back at it, I can’t believe we got through this show,” Nayyar said, ahead of the premiere.
“I can’t believe we did it… It just feels triumphant. I mean, I want it to do well and I want people to watch it, but I’m also almost just as excited that it’s actually coming out! Because I know what we went through and how difficult it was.”
