"I just did any job I could. I cleaned toilets in my first year in 1999, I was in the housekeeping department. I did every and anything I could,"
"I needed to book something big for me to be able to apply for a permanent resident card, and then I auditioned for Big Bang, and then the rest is history."
"But I only had one year left on my visa, because when you graduate as an international student, you get one year's free work. So I was up against it in terms of timing."
"I taught acting. I would get paid to do some comedy for corporate events. I was a waiter,"
Kunal Nayyar worked a string of menial and gig jobs before landing Rajesh Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory. He cleaned toilets in 1999 in a housekeeping department, managed a computer lab similar to his character, taught acting, performed comedy at corporate events, waited tables, and washed church windows on Sundays. He juggled college and side gigs, sometimes pulling 16-hour shifts. He moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles to increase audition opportunities. As an international student, he faced one year of authorized work after graduation and needed a significant role to apply for permanent residency. The Big Bang audition led to major success and earnings.
Read at Fortune
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