Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The Big Bang Theoryimpressed fans with a group of relatable nerds. Everyone in the group has got their ‘thing’ and for the first few seasons, Raj’s ongoing unique characteristic was him not being able to talk in front of women. Interestingly, creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady were inspired by a real person who had this condition of selective mutism around women.
However, Lorre and Prady’s initial plan to include this condition in the show was very different from what fans got with Raj. Kunal Nayyar did a brilliant job of portraying this characteristic, contributing to some of the rib-tickling moments in the series.
Raj’s selective mutism inThe Big Bang Theorywas based on a real person but it was very different
Kunal Nayyar‘s Raj couldn’t speak to women for the initial few seasons.The Big Bang TheorycreatorBill Pradyworked with a computer programmer in the ’80s who had a similar condition and he served as inspiration for the condition. Interestingly, the creators initially decided to go in a very different direction with this condition in the series.
‘She deserved way worse’: The Big Bang Theory Didn’t Punish Kaley Cuoco’s Penny Enough in the Best Leonard Moment
During an interview with EW during the 15th anniversary of its inception, Prady shared that his computer programmer also served as an inspiration for most of Sheldon’s attributes. The selective mutism condition was also supposed to be Sheldon’s attribute. Prady shared withEW:
That attribute (selective mutism) actually belonged to the fellow who had most of Sheldon’s attributes as well. Somehow, in our discussions, that moved out of the Sheldon character and into Raj.
Prady further explained the attribute of his friend in detail, sharing that his friend would go completely silent whenever a woman entered the room. Prady shared that it was an anxiety condition as this guy was anxious around women. Prady shared:
It was a really interesting thing to watch because if we were talking and a woman came into the room, he would just stop talking. And then she would leave, and he would start talking again. Obviously, we started noticing it. It’s a real thing, selective mutism. It’s an anxiety condition. He was just so anxious around women that his solution was to not talk.
Chuck Lorreadded how Penny had a huge role in helping Raj with the condition. In the sixth season finale, Raj was finally able to talk to Penny without the influence of alcohol. It was a funny scene, but it was a major social transition for the character.
The Big Bang Theorycreators never intended the attributes to be a malicious joke
Chuck Lorre further shared that the character’s ongoing attributes in the show werenever intended as a malicious joke. Lorre shared that these characters were often alienated and people could identify with their pain and struggles. He shared with EW:
These characters were struggling to participate in the world and it was hard and even painful to do so. That’s something we’ve all felt and can understand. I think most people can identify with it on some level, that alienation, even popular people.
The Big Bang Theory’s One Meteor-Sized Mistake Makes a Fan Favorite Character Hard to Watch 5 Years After Show’s End
Prady added that they tried to break the popular depiction of nerds in the media, which was very homogenous. He shared that exploring the nerd world was interesting to him as these guys had interests in very random things.
The Big Bang Theoryis now available for streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
More from Hashim Asraff
Brad Pitt Hits Maximum Paranoia: Real Reason He Wants to Turn $12 Million Home Into a “Fortress” (Report)
Peacemaker Season 2: Frank Grillo Reveals John Cena’s Secret That He Never Saw Coming
Prince Harry Gave Royal Family Member a Bloody Nose in a Fist Fight
Recommended
‘Blue Beetle’ Turns Two: James Gunn’s DCU Has Forgotten Him But These 4 DC Shows Did Him Proud
Transformers Star Is Absolutely Right on Why He Rejected ‘The Penguin’
How Many Episodes Are Left in One Piece Egghead Arc? Explained
The Summer I Turned Pretty Theory Proves Jenny Han’s Name Game Ruins Season 3 Finale
Brad Pitt Hits Maximum Paranoia: Real Reason He Wants to Turn $12 Million Home Into a “Fortress” (Report)
How Did Mila Kunis Prepare for Black Swan? Harsh 12 Hours Routine Details
Bill PradyChuck LorreKunal NayyarThe Big Bang Theory
