The Big Bang Theory has been a long-running comedy series with many lovable characters that have left a lasting impression on fans. But there is also the other side. A girlfriend of Leonard was probably so unpopular that she could only be seen in a few episodes.
Which character is being referred to? In 12 seasons and 279 episodes, the well-known nerds of The Big Bang Theory didn’t just focus on science, comics, and series, but also on relationships and family. Throughout the series, we also get to know various family members.
One of them is Raj’s sister, Priya Koothrappali. She is a successful lawyer, and although Leonard promised in the past, he starts an affair with her in season 4 when she is visiting California.
Before Leonard gets together with Penny and later marries her, he had other partners, but especially Priya didn’t seem to sit well with the fans.
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This is a polarizing figure
How did the creators of the series feel about Priya? In the book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story Of The Epic Hit Series
, there are not only various backgrounds on the series, but also interviews with producers and actors.
Among other things, producer Steve Molaro spoke, who discussed Priya and her relationship with Leonard. He said:
Uh, that is a polarizing figure. I wish I could tell you that we thought about these things in advance, but we did not. It seemed like an entertaining storyline that Leonard was dating Raj’s sister. That was the entire thought behind it.
Steve Molaro on Priya and Leonard (via Filmstarts)
According to Molaro, there were no big plans; they just watched what developed. We were just desperately looking for the next episode and that’s all there is to it.
As Filmstarts reports, however, fans did not react well to Priya, which is why she did not take on a larger role in the series and was written out.
Overall, she appeared in only 12 episodes, with her last appearance in season 5. Considering how important the family aspect is in the series, this seems quite little. There are also scattered forum entries online such as on Reddit, where people discuss that they do not like Priya.
The actor of Leonard praised Aarti Mann
How did Leonard react to Priya? In an interview with tvline.com, Johnny Galecki spoke in 2011 about the then-active storyline with Priya. He only has praise for her actress Aarti Mann. He says that the team loves her and that her work ethic fits perfectly with them.
Galecki continues that her character also makes sense within the series because she is intelligent. She is a counterpart to Leonard, with whom he can talk more easily than with Penny. In this context, he also talks about the situation with Raj during the relationship:
I have to laugh so hard. Raj does not handle it well! I love how the writers deal with romantic relationships, as it is never quite comfortable. The more Raj realizes that it is not a cheap fling but a serious relationship, the less it bothers him.
Johnny Galecki on his series relationship with Priya and Raj’s reaction (via tvline.com).
What do you think about Priya and her character? Do you find her good or did she also bother you? Feel free to let us know in the comments. During the conception phase of the series, The Big Bang Theory looked quite different. An important character was supposed to be a robot: The Big Bang Theory: Before the series started, an important character was supposed to be a robot
