Kunal Nayyar enjoys “paying random families’ medical bills.” The 42-year-old actor, who reportedly earned around US$1 million (S$1.3 million) per episode of The Big Bang Theory, says his wealth doesn’t feel like a burden. He and his wife, Neha Kapur, use their fortune to help others, including funding university scholarships for underprivileged students.

Speaking to the i newspaper, he said, “Money has given me greater freedom, and the best gift is the ability to give back and change people’s lives. We also support animal charities because we love dogs. But what I really enjoy is going on GoFundMe at night and paying random families’ medical bills—that’s my masked vigilante thing. Money feels like a grace from the universe, not a burden.”

Kunal believes helping those less fortunate benefits everyone. He noted, “People expect kindness from leaders or politicians, but real change starts at home. If your neighbor asks for sugar and you shut the door, there is no world peace.” He hopes audiences of his latest film, Christmas Karma—a retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol—take away the lesson that change must start with oneself.

The actor also spoke about experiencing racism worldwide, saying, “I cannot change my skin color; it’s the suit I have to wear for life.” He expressed concern about the resurgence of overt racism, citing far-right marches in London, and emphasized that prejudice stems from narrow-mindedness. Kunal approaches hardship with compassion, explaining, “You can’t change someone’s mind through aggression. By responding with grace, you can help heal the inner child and hold space for what’s screaming inside them.”