Hookups, Feuds & Bitter Rivalries! 'Big Bang Theory' Star Kunal Nayyar Tells All About The Show In Shocking New Memoir
In his juicy new memoir, Yes, My Accent Is Real, The Big Bang Theory star Kunal Nayyar, 34, dishes behind-the-scenes secrets about the hit sitcom.
BookExpo America 2015
Nayyar says he was "obsessed" with actress Danica McKellar's character Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years as a kid in India— and was nervous to kiss her when she guest starred on an episode of TBBT. "I even avoided coffee so I wouldn't have coffee breath, and then I popped seventeen Altoids," he writes.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
When the New Delhi-bred Nayyar auditioned for his part, he had never heard of the show's famous executive producer and creator, Chuck Lorre. "To me, he was just another guy I wanted to make laugh," he says.
The stars come out for the CBS/CW, Showtime Summer TCA Party 2015 – Part 2
Nayyar's character, Raj Koothrappali, was initially supposed to be called Dave, but they changed the shy astrophysicist's ethnicity to Indian for him.
The Graduation Transmission
Lucky! Nayyar landed his very first audition upon moving to Los Angeles: the role of Raj.
The Septum Deviation
The entire cast plays ping-pong on set during downtime, Nayyar reveals. "Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting is a very good ping-pong player, Mark Cendrowski, our director, is excellent," the actor says. "And I think I'm the best."
The Skywalker Incursion
The cast even competed against over TV shows, including Kelsey Grammer's now-canceled sitcom Back to You. "I would tell you who won but I am sworn to secrecy," he says, but later acknowledges that his crew took home the gold.
“Finding Neverland” Broadway Opening Night – Arrivals & Curtain Call
Despite what viewers may believe, the hit show does NOT have a laugh track, Nayyar insists. "The laughter is real, from a real live audience," he writes. "I know this because I am there every single day of my life."
The Status Quo Combustion
Nayyar can't keep a straight face while filming. "I'm the absolute worst on the show about breaking character and cracking up laughing," he admits. "I'll even start laughing at my own jokes."
23rd Annual ‘A Night at Sardi’s’
Costar diss? When Nayyar wed former Miss India Neha Kapur, 31, in 2011, his TBBT cast members were not among the one thousand guests.
The Hesitation Ramification
However, he refers to his costars as his "family away from home" in the book's acknowledgments.