The Big Bang Theory focuses on the smarts and friendships of Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj, and their future partners. Sheldon, Leonard, and Penny are the show’s leads but perhaps there’s another shining star in the midst.
Raj’s character typically gets the backseat because he doesn’t have a long term partner that's close with the girls, he doesn’t have a seat on the couch, and his work in astrophysics doesn’t always connect with the group’s work in physics and engineering. Nevertheless, many of Raj’s hardships and glow-ups are main character territory, and they should be acknowledged.
His Growth Without A Partner
Raj is the only character who didn’t end up with a significant other. While he had plenty of girlfriends and dates throughout the show’s 12 seasons, he’s the only one who walked away from the show single. This proves that his growth throughout the series has been all his own.
Characters like Howard, Penny, and Sheldon all grew as people once they were in serious relationships, but Raj grew as an individual without the help of a girlfriend. That in itself is extremely commendable.
He Expanded His Career
Being an astrophysicist was more than a career for Raj, it was his passion. While it’s safe to say that all of the men in The Big Bang Theory loved what they did for work, Raj loved it so much that it was his hobby as much as his career.
In the 11th season, Raj started working at the planetarium where he continued his love for space. He had a true passion for showmanship and the stars, and it showed. Seeing Raj shine through his work and his passion was inspiring for viewers. It proved that he had more to offer through his line of work. This is something that Sheldon suffered with. Sheldon tried teaching physics at Caltech and to Penny but failed. He also wanted to be Professor Proton but wasn't even considered. Raj, on the other hand, was able to succeed at both.
He Found His Voice
Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Penny all grew as people from the first season, but Raj literally found his voice. At the beginning of the series, Raj was electively mute. He wasn’t able to speak to women unless he had alcohol in his system.
After years of needing a cocktail to speak to women (even Penny), Raj was finally able to face his fears and speak to women with the help of a new anxiety pill. Seeing Raj transform from a quiet character with no confidence to a charismatic individual with a voice is main character territory.
His Professional Credits Aren’t Talked About Enough
Everyone is so focused on Sheldon's neediness that they often forget about Raj's successes. Especially since Sheldon, Howard, and Leonard work together more than they do with Raj. However, if viewers take a second to see all of the good that Raj has done, they would realize that his accomplishments are more than noteworthy.
Raj helped create a data-collecting space probe for Pluto, he found a planetary object outside of the Kuiper belt, he found a comet that's never been seen before — the list goes on! Raj could have had his own show due to all of his accomplishments.
An Underdog On Top
At the start of the show, Raj was the unspoken underdog. He followed Howard around like a puppy and he couldn't talk to women. It wasn't until Raj applied for a job at the planetarium that he realized he had low self-confidence because of Howard.
The two men always had playful banter in their relationship but Howard took things too far. He made Raj feel incomplete and worried. Raj eventually had to break free from Howard (and anyone who treated him less than) to build his confidence back up. By season 12, Raj became the man he didn't know he could become.
He Separated Himself From The Comforts of Home
People made fun of Raj for being a daddy and mama's boy but he was raised incredibly privileged and didn't know any different. As Raj matured, he wanted to be more than a charity case. As easy as it was to ask for money from his mom and dad, he wanted to make his own money and pay for his own expenses.
He eventually cut himself off from his parents financially and became responsible for his own bills. This was a huge move for Raj.
He Lifted His Friends Up When They Were Down
What makes Sheldon a compelling main character is that he went from a selfish robot of a man who transformed into a caring and loving robot of a man. Sheldon cared for his friends but in a way that was different from his friends.
Raj, however, has always lifted up his friends when they were in need. He gave Amy a makeover when she was crying over her appearance, he calmed Bernadette down when she wasn't excited about being a mom, and he was there for Howard every step of the way through parenthood. Raj is the ultimate friend.
Raj Was One Of The Only Ones Who Could Handle Sheldon
Leonard and Penny can handle Sheldon in their own way but Raj appears to be the only friend in the group who doesn't lash out at Sheldon. Everyone in the group has yelled at Sheldon once or twice on the show but Raj is different.
He accepted Sheldon for who he was and treated him with kid gloves. He's often unbothered by Sheldon's antics and goes with the flow when things change because of Sheldon's behavior. For someone who's typically emotional in relationships, he's very level-headed with one of the more erratic characters on the show.
Living The American Dream
Raj is living the American dream. After growing up in India, he went to college at Cambridge before the transition to California for a prestigious job at Caltech. Raj has been very honest about his disdain for life in India and how much he loved America.
He did everything he could to remain in America when his work visa expired (resulting in him working with Sheldon) and has since become a permanent resident. Raj is a success story.
His Sister Became A Large Storyline
Typically, the life of a main character is dissected in multiple ways. With Sheldon, viewers got to know his siblings, his mother, his childhood in Texas, etc... Raj's home life also became a large storyline, proving his worth to the show.
Not only did viewers become familiar with Raj's parents via Skype but they got to know his sister Priya as well. Priya was in California for work and created a relationship with Leonard. Their dynamic was important to the show because of Leonard's relationship with Penny. With Raj's sister a big part of Leonard's life, this made Raj a more important member of the show.