Jim Parsons, a lead actor on 'The Big Bang Theory', has opened up about the reasons why the show's production was delayed this year.

One of the main reasons for the delay concerned the contracts of the top three cast members on the show, Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper), Kaley Cuoco (Penny) and Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter). The trio asked, according to reports, for $1 million per episode compensation. This resulted in a long negotiation that halted the entire shoot for the upcoming season.

Additionally, Simon Helberg (Howard) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) also negotiated for their new salaries with Warner Bros. TV.

Parsons was the first one to successfully sign the new contract of a staggering $1 million per episode. Cuoco and Galecki followed through shortly after. A few days later, Helberg and Nayyar also reached an agreement with the network on their contracts.

Parsons told Entertainment Weekly, "I always thought everything would be worked out by the start date [July 30]. When it wasn't, it certainly wasn't a good feeling, but there was absolutely no getting around the fact that everything had to be dealt with and finished before we could get back."

He also said that a "walking out" or a "strike" was unacceptable.

"That's always hard, because part of you wants to explain to people what's really going on. 'Don't worry, we're not leaving, we want to do the show,'" he explained.

The show was initially set to shoot on July 30, but started one week later. The premiere date has not been announced, but if they were to follow the original schedule, it is set to air on September 22.