When you read as many memoirs as I do Goodreads is bound to recommend some seemingly random suggestions. When I saw Raj from The Big Bang Theory had written a book I thought what you’re thinking right now- “What?”- but was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
For his part, Kunal acknowledges that he probably isn’t at the right point in his life to write a memoir.
Sometimes people ask me, “Why are you writing a memoir? You’re only thirty-four.” This is not a memoir. I’m not a president, or an astronaut, or a Kardashian. This is a collection of stories from my life. It is not an “I was born in…” type of book.
Kunal was born in England and raised in New Dehli; he came to America on scholarship to the University of Portland. He joined the theater program in college to meet pretty girls (which is the same reason my father acted throughout high school & college, so hormones) and fell in love with the craft. After winning some awards for collegiate theater Kunal was accepted into Temple University’s graduate program where he received his masters in Acting. A few off-Broadway plays & a guest spot on NCIS later Kunal auditions for the pilot of The Big Bang Theory and the rest is history.
You don’t have to be a fan of the Big Bang Theory to appreciate Nayyar’s memoir; he only mentions the show a few times, which is to be expected since it his most prolific screen credit.
At the heart of his memoir Kunal loves his family and India; he is excited by his fame but realistic that it could all disappear tomorrow. He sprinkles silly thoughts he has on aeroplanes as well as background information on some of his favorite India holidays in between his essays about growing up and college. He is funny and earnest, an ideal combination for a memoir.
While I may not remember Yes, My Accent is Real by this time next year it was, nonetheless, an unexpected delight to read.