Kunal Nayyar, the British actor famed for playing Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory, has disclosed a remarkable and clandestine philanthropic habit: he anonymously settles the medical debts of complete strangers.
The Masked Vigilante of GoFundMe
In a candid interview with The i Paper to promote his new film, Christmas Karma, the 44-year-old star admitted that money from his time on the blockbuster CBS sitcom—where he reportedly earned around $1 million per episode in later seasons—does not weigh heavily on him. Instead, it has granted him the freedom to make a tangible difference.
"What I really love to do is go on GoFundMe at night and just pay random families’ medical bills," Nayyar shared enthusiastically. "That’s my masked vigilante thing!" He described his accumulated wealth not as a burden but as a "grace from the universe," emphasising that its greatest gift is "the ability to give back, to change people’s lives."
A Broader Philanthropic Mission
Nayyar's charitable endeavours, undertaken with his wife, former Miss India and designer Neha Kapur, extend beyond healthcare. The couple also contributes to college scholarship funds aimed at students from disadvantaged backgrounds and supports various animal charities, driven by their love for dogs.
His comments came during discussion of Christmas Karma, a Bollywood-inspired take on A Christmas Carol in which he stars as a Scrooge-like businessman. Despite the film receiving scathing reviews, Nayyar hopes its timeless message resonates: "That no one is going to come and change the world for you. You have to do it for yourself."
Inspiring Personal Responsibility Over Political Expectation
Nayyar urged the public to seek out their own ways to assist those less fortunate, moving away from waiting for grand, top-down solutions. "Right now people are not happy because we are all expecting someone else to be kind," he observed. "We are expecting a president or a politician, some leader, to come and bring us world peace."
He illustrated his point with a powerful analogy: "But there is no world peace if your neighbour comes to your door wanting some sugar for their tea, and you lock it against them."
In this, he finds an unlikely peer in global superstar Taylor Swift. In October, Swift's friend Ruby Rose confirmed the singer also browses GoFundMe, generously donating to causes. Swift made headlines with a $100,000 donation to a two-year-old girl battling brain cancer, a gesture her family confirmed was entirely unsolicited.
Nayyar's story shifts the focus from celebrity wealth to its potential for quiet, transformative kindness, proving that impactful change often begins with individual action.
