In the series finale of The Big Bang Theory, Raj Koothrappali remained single unlike his married friends, a choice that reflected his personal growth. Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj, shared insights into this ending in a new oral history book. The show's creators opted to leave his story open-ended rather than forcing resolution.
The Big Bang Theory wrapped up its 12-season run with most central characters, including Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard, entering marriages and starting families. However, Raj, portrayed by Kunal Nayyar, began and ended the series as a single man, prompting questions about his unresolved love life.
Nayyar addressed this in Jessica Radloff's book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. He praised the decision, stating, "I thought it was very astute that the one person who wanted love so badly realizes maybe he needs to love himself first. It doesn't have to come through someone else, and that's a very lovely way to end a character's storyline. He grew so much in those last few seasons as a character, and you saw him become less and less dependent on all the things he thought he needed."
Throughout the show, Raj faced romantic challenges, such as his early inability to talk to women without alcohol. In the final season, he pursued a serious relationship with Anu, played by Rati Gupta. The pair parted ways when she took a job in London, and Raj chose not to follow, doubting she was his soulmate and unwilling to disrupt his life.
Co-creator Chuck Lorre explained the creative choice in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He noted the influence of showrunner Steve Holland, saying, "Because of the way this finale was presented by [showrunner] Steve Holland, we didn't feel like it was necessary to have some big story closure for every character. That felt forced and somewhat unnecessary because sometimes big things don't happen to everybody all at once. So Raj's story just remains open."
This approach allowed Raj's arc to emphasize self-reliance over a tidy romantic conclusion, aligning with his development over the series.
