From The Office to Never Have I Ever: How Mindy Kaling rocked the entertainment industry

A producer, director, writer, comedian and actor - Mindy Kaling is an inspiration for many. A phenomenal artiste, she broke the barriers of race, becoming an international pop-culture icon. Being a woman of colour and of Indian origin, the journey was not easy. Nonetheless, after making her debut in The 40-year-old Virgin in 2005, she made it to the top of the entertainment business, and has grown ever since, with numerous awards under her belt. 

Today on her 42nd birthday, let’s take a look at some of her greatest accomplishment:

Set in the premise of a paper company Dunder-Mifflin, the story revolves around the staff working there and their daily antics. Portraying the distinct role of Kelly Kapoor, the chief customer service representative at the organization, Mindy is an absolute treat to watch. Thoroughly entertaining and hilarious, she takes the show up a notch with her spot-on acting. She was also one of the co-authors, at the young age of 24, and went on to become the executive producer in Season 8 of The Office.

Streaming on – Prime Video

The show chronicles how Mindy Lahiri, a young obstetrician in New York manages her work-life balance as she struggles to find some much-needed romance in her personal life. Playing the titular role, Mindy Kaling paved an example as she became one of the few people of colour to have their own sit-com. Apart from commendable acting, she also directed and produced the show, setting a note-worthy precedent.

Streaming on – Prime Video

A delightful teen drama with Mindy as the creator, Never Have I Ever is a fun and relaxing watch, based on the story of a young Indian-American teenager, Devi, as she navigates through her complicated life. Essentially a rom-com at heart, the brilliance of the show truly owes its credit to Mindy.

Streaming on – Netflix

2019 movie Late Night may have comedy as its central foundation, but it also engages in a subtle commentary about diversity of class, gender and colour, along with the need to promote equal opportunities for all. Mindy Kaling is the apt choice for the role of the young aspiring writer as she brings in authenticity to the character, due to her own journey.

Streaming on – YouTube

In this animated film, Mindy Kaling charts out new territories as she acts as a voice-over artiste, narrating the role of Disgust. The movie focuses on a young girl, 11-year-old Riley, as she tries to control her emotions, which have the power of dictating her actions, making her life unnecessarily difficult in the midst.

Streaming on – Disney+ Hotstar Premium