Mindy Kaling is an American actress, comedian and author known for her offbeat humor and extensive work on television.
She attended Dartmouth College, where she majored in theatre and joined the campus improv troupe.
After college, Kaling moved to Brooklyn and co-wrote the off-Broadway play Matt & Ben with her college friend Brenda Withers.
This play led to her being recruited by Greg Daniels to write for the American version of The Office, where she played Kelly Kapoor and later became an executive producer and director.
Kaling created and starred in the semi-biographical sitcom The Mindy Project, which aired from 2012 to 2017.
She also cocreated Champions and Never Have I Ever and cowrote Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Kaling’s film career includes roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, License to Wed and Ocean’s 8.
Siblings
Mindy has an older brother named Vijay Chokal-Ingam.
Vijay gained notoriety for pretending to be black on medical school applications in 1998 and 1999.
This decision led to him being accepted into several prestigious medical schools, including Columbia University, Cornell Universityn and Vanderbilt University.
Vijay’s actions were met with controversy and criticism from his sister Mindy, who felt that it would bring shame on their family.
The two are currently estranged.
Career
Kaling started her career in the early 2000s, co-writing the off-Broadway play Matt & Ben with her college friend Brenda Withers.
This led to her being recruited to write for the American version of The Office in 2004, where she also played the role of Kelly Kapoor.
Kaling went on to become an executive producer and director on The Office, writing more episodes than anyone else on the show.
In 2012, she created, wrote, produced, and starred in her own sitcom The Mindy Project, which ran for 6 seasons.
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Beyond television, Kaling has had roles in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, A Wrinkle in Time and Ocean’s 8. She has also done voice work in animated films like Wreck-It Ralph and Inside Out.
In 2019, Kaling wrote, produced, and starred in the movie Late Night, which was loosely based on her own experience as the only woman and person of color in a writers’ room.
Most recently, Kaling created the Netflix series Never Have I Ever in 2020, which has been praised for its diverse representation and breaking South Asian stereotypes.
Throughout her career, Kaling has been recognized for her talents, receiving numerous accolades including two Screen Actors Guild Awards and six Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
She was also named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2013.
Awards and accolades
Kaling has received numerous accolades throughout her career.
She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 2021 by President Joe Biden for her groundbreaking work in television, film and literature.
Additionally, she was presented with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in 2023 by the Producers Guild of America for her trailblazing work in television comedy.
Kaling has also won several awards, including a Tony Award for her work on the Broadway play Matt & Ben.
She has won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and has been nominated six times for her work on The Office and The Mindy Project.
Kaling has also been nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Movie Star in 2019.
She has received several other awards and nominations, including a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical in 2015.
Kaling has also been nominated for several NAMIC Vision Awards, including Best Performance – Comedy in 2018 and 2016.
These accolades reflect her significant contributions to the television comedy landscape, her work in breaking boundaries and pushing culture forward, and her dedication to inspiring and delighting audiences.