Raj Koothrappali

 The Big Bang Theory history

Rajesh “Raj” Koothrappali is a New Delhi-born astrophysicist who studied at the University of Cambridge before moving to Pasadena to work at Caltech. He came from a wealthy family and often spoke with his parents by video chat from India.

During the early years of The Big Bang Theory, Raj was unable to speak to women unless he had been drinking due to selective mutism. He eventually overcame this, but continued to struggle with confidence, loneliness and his search for a lasting relationship.

Raj’s closest friendship was with Howard Wolowitz, and he remained a regular presence in Howard and Bernadette’s family life, helping during Bernadette’s pregnancies and becoming godfather to their daughter Halley. When Howard was in space, Raj became closer to Stuart, helping bring Stuart further into the group beyond his role as the comic book store owner.

Professionally, Raj received attention for his discovery of a planetary object beyond the Kuiper belt and later hosted shows at the Griffith Planetarium. By the end of The Big Bang Theory, Raj was the only one of his friends who remained single.

 Stuart Fails to Save the Universe history

When we meet Raj in 101 “Spoiler: Gary Dies”, he is being held prisoner inside Caltech. Stuart, Denise and Bert encounter him locked in what was once Bert’s geology lab after they are captured trying to infiltrate the university. With a heavy beard, an unkempt appearance and a paranoid manner, Raj has clearly been altered by his years in captivity.

Raj explains that Sheldon, Leonard and Howard built a vari-state quantum interference device, which malfunctioned and altered reality. He believes the world can be set right if they can reach the device, but warns that Caltech is controlled by the “Evil One”, eventually revealed to be Barry Kripke, now the Grand Caliph of South Pasadena. Raj’s imprisonment and the harsh realities of this universe have left him cynical and fatalistic, especially after his wife was eaten by one of the giant moths that haunt this reality on their honeymoon.

After Bert realizes they can use the geology samples in his old lab to escape, Raj joins Stuart and Bert on an explosive mission through Caltech to find the device. When the group finally gets to the machine, Raj attempts to reconfigure it, but Kripke shoots him before he can finish. In this universe, Raj dies before he can tell Stuart how to reset reality, leaving the others to continue the mission without him.

This page has been updated up to episode 101 Spoiler: Gary Dies