Then Mindy talks to Jennifer about how BJ Novak and Al Pacino look alike. Plus the actress opens up about how her work inspires others to dream big, and says she wants to write a scary movie musical starring Jennifer Hudson!
Mindy Kaling was born Vera Mindy Chokalingam. She chose “Mindy” as her professional name because her full name was often mispronounced. She graduated from Dartmouth College, where she majored in playwriting and was a member of the improvisational comedy troupe “The Dog Day Players” and the a cappella group “The Rockapellas.”
Before hitting it big, Kaling gained attention with the play “Matt & Ben,” a comedic piece she co-wrote and starred in, which imagines how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay for “Good Will Hunting.” Kaling is best known for her role as Kelly Kapoor on “The Office.” She was also a writer, executive producer, and director for the show. She created, produced, and starred in the hit TV show “The Mindy Project,” which aired from 2012 to 2017.
Kaling has written two bestselling memoirs, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” and “Why Not Me?” She has lent her voice to several animated films and series, including “Despicable Me,” “Inside Out,” and “Wreck-It Ralph.” Kaling broke new ground as the first female Indian-American to create and star in her own network TV sitcom with “The Mindy Project.” Beyond comedy, she has ventured into drama and action genres, including roles in “Ocean’s 8” and the adaptation of “A Wrinkle in Time.”
Known for her vibrant and bold fashion choices, Kaling has become a style icon and often showcases her love for colorful outfits on social media. She is a proud mother of two children, Katherine (Kit) and Spencer, whom she has chosen to raise largely out of the public eye.
Mindy wearing a cute Zimmerman floral tranquility flip dress.
Photos by Chris Haston
