Many know actor Kunal Nayyar as the sweet and socially awkward Rajesh Koothrappali from The Big Bang Theory. But in Netflix’s Criminal: UK Season 2, he plays a role that’s the complete opposite – and it’s one you probably missed. Far from his nerdy sitcom days, Nayyar stepped into the shoes of a cold, twisted suspect in a tense police drama.
Here, his transformation is so brilliant that he looks completely unrecognizable. So, if you thought you knew everything about his acting range, this dark turn will make you think twice. Let’s dive deeper!
If you only know Kunal Nayyar as Raj, the shy and often awkward-around-the-ladies guy from The Big Bang Theory, then get ready for a significant shock. Yes, in Criminal: UK Season 2 Episode 4, the actor delivers a performance so dark and chilling that fans could hardly believe it was him.
Here, he plays Sandeep Singh, a cold and calculating man accused of murder. The entire episode takes place inside a stark police investigation room, but the tension is electric. His character has already served 10 years behind bars, but now he’s being questioned about another possible crime.
A gripping psychological battle unfolds as he plays mind games with the detectives. His shift from calm to absolutely furious in seconds kept everyone on the edge of their seats. What makes his character even more haunting is how much control he seems to have.
Sandeep offers key information about a long-missing child, but only if he gets something in return. Thus, he uses the offer to push the authorities into a corner and test their limits. For those who have followed him for several years, this role is completely different from the ones he has played in the past.
So, if you skipped Criminal: UK, it’s time to hit play – because after this, you’ll never look at Kunal Nayyar the same way again.
Kunal Nayyar took a dark role to escape his sitcom past
For years, Kunal Nayyar was known to millions as the awkward astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali. But after the show concluded in 2018, Nayyar knew it was time to move on. And for this, he didn’t just want another role – he wanted a complete transformation. That’s why his role in Criminal: UK was so important for him.
It’s a dark and intense role that’s nothing like Raj, which was exactly what he wanted to go for. As per The Sun, he added that people instantly recognized his voice and face from the sitcom, so he needed to do something that would make viewers say, “Wait, who is this? Oh my God. Is that the guy from The Big Bang?”
The actor also admits that some Raj-like mannerisms are still a part of him, but his role in Criminal: UK was a major step in breaking free from his sitcom past. He didn’t want to be seen as “Oh, there’s Raj, playing a killer.” Instead, he wanted people to forget about his sitcom role entirely while watching him in the dark Netflix show.
So, after more than a decade of playing the same character, Nayyar finally got a chance to prove he could do something completely different.
