Playing Raj Koothrappali In The Big Bang Theory Keeps Me Fresh, Alive & Happy, Says Kunal Nayyar!

He plays a dorky character - with a mouthful of a name - in popular American sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" that has captured the imagination of the global audience. Kunal Nayyar, better known for his misfit astrophysicist depiction of Raj Koothrappali, has been regular on the show that has recently gone into its tenth season. Unassuming and devoid of any starry airs, this 30-something also represents the successful Indian immigrant story. In a freewheeling chat over coffee with Lopamudra Ghatak ..

1. It's difficult times for 'The Big Bang Theory' (TBBT) fans it seems. Recently there were reports that this is going to be the last season of the show. Can you reassure your million-plus fan following that all is well?

KN: I have also read such reports. Unfortunately, the decision is not in my hands. I will continue to do the show as long as they continue to have us. We are all having a wonderful time on the show. The quality of the writing is still incredibly high, in fact I think it's maybe the highest that it's ever been. But it's not up to me to take a call on this - if it were up to me, I would say let's keep doing the "The Big Bang Theory" like forever!

2. How much of Raj Koothrapalli is there in your life?

There are some similarities. I have a pretty innocent, wide-eyed view of the world and sometimes I can get into trouble because of that. Raj and I are quite similar in our nerdy behaviour. It's also wonderful to wake up every morning and be able to go to work every day to play an innocent character - it has kept me fresh, alive and happy.

3. We hear that there is a lot of racism, especially towards brown skin. How much of a racial bias have you had to face on the sets?

I think racism exists if you give credibility to narrow-minded people. I have never given credibility to narrow-minded people. Racism exists everywhere in the world - be it India, Europe or America - only because we choose to listen to narrow-minded bigots. If you choose not to and live your life above them, then you are not harmed by them.

4. When you first started off in the U.S., did you face any difficulties being assimilated into the mainstream?

If there was racism directed at me, I didn't notice it. Maybe I didn't pay attention or maybe I had turned a blind eye, but I never felt anything of the sort. I can't look back and think of an instance that I felt I was a victim of racism.

5. You have said that you "are obsessed with the Game of Thrones". Any particular character, apart from Jon Snow, that you would like to play?

I would obviously like to play Jon Snow. Doesn't every one want to play Jon Snow? I just know that I want to play Jon Snow - he's got that hair, that exciting sword and that's all so cool. Theatre, movies, films or TV: what's your first love?Theatre will always be my first love. Theatre was where I learnt to act, found my footing in life and my love for acting came from there. All my training is from the theatre. When you do a play, you have three weeks to two months to rehearse. Theatrical writing predominantly is very complex, and you have little time to develop them and embody them completely physically. In my opinion, it's the truest form of acting. Have you received any Bollywood offers? There have been some talks but there's still nothing that I have been really excited about. There are some things that I am excited about and want to produce myself in Hindi.

6. How good, bad or ugly is your Hindi?

(Chuckles) Being from Delhi, my Hindi is as good, bad or ugly as yours. I think in English. As a child, I have thought in the language as I went to an English-speaking school. But it's not bad, ya. Woh to hota rehta hai - ho jayega practice kar ke! (That kind of will improve with practice!)Any particular director in India that you would like to work with? I would love to work with Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Raju Hirani and Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra. I would also love to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. His films are full of grandeur, they are almost like a painting on a canvas. Everyone - men and women - look gorgeous and beautiful in his films. What actor wouldn't want to work with him!

7. Have you seen 'Quantico'?

Yes, I have seen a bunch of episodes of 'Quantico'. Priyanka is so talented. It's great that she has been breaking waves playing the lead character in a Hollywood show.

8. You are fairly active on social media. What do you think of it?

I have a love-hate relationship with social media. When am feeling lonely at a coffee-shop, I post a picture on Instagram. And when I get all this instant love, then I am overwhelmed. But then once in a while, when someone says "Oh you're a shi**actor or the TBBT is a bad show, then I feel horrible. I may get 99 good comments about my book and one bad comment like, "Oh, you're a terrible writer" and that one comment is all we care about. Human beings are so self-destructive. At the same time, social media it has brought the world closer and connected. But my wife and I make a conscious effort to put our phones down to guard our privacy. I am at odds with it - and I guess a lot of others too are.

9. That brings me to my next question - do you think social media has brought celebrities closer or has it killed the mystique and aura that stars used to have?

George Clooney has a great quote about that: If you want to be a movie star, why would you ever be on any social medium? Because movie stars survive on the mystery surrounding them. I think it's brought stars closer to fans. I try to not post everything about my life. Because I think it's fun to have some secrets to yourself

10. Have you been trolled? Have you faced major criticism?

Yes, I have been trolled. But I haven't faced major criticism as such. There will always be people who will say something mean because they are having a bad day. Words hurt and as much as you want to ignore it, a bad comment makes you feel lousy unless it's blatantly ridiculous. It's sad when you pour your heart and soul as an artist into something and then someone tears it apart because they feel they have the right to. That's hard for any artist - it's hard for film-makers, actors or writers to read reviews because it's one person's opinion based on your effort. And that's the hard thing about social media.

11. In your memoir, 'Yes, My Accent is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven't Told You', the humour is self-deprecating and bold. How long did it take you to pen down your life across continents? Did you face the infamous writer's block at any time?

Writer's block wasn't the issue as much as the anxiety that came with writing about my life. That was what I worried more - should I write about my childhood, about losing my virginity? I used to wake up in sweat thinking that I couldn't do it. Then I would call my publisher and say that I could not write it.

I quit the project almost three times and procrastinated much about it. Then I wrote a lot for nine weeks. Finally, I was able to get 'Yes, My Accent is Real: And Some other things I haven't Told You', (publisher Simon & Schuster) off my list in three years.

(Originally published in The times of India)