Mindy Kaling has temporarily stepped back from acting, but she’s ready to take the spotlight again.
The 45-year-old actress is known for her role as Kelly Kapoor on NBC’s The Office, which she was part of for eight seasons from 2005 to 2013. Following that, she created and starred in The Mindy Project, a show that ran for six seasons from 2012 to 2017.
Kaling launched her production company, Kaling International, in 2012 and produced the Netflix series “Never Have I Ever,” which enjoyed four successful seasons before wrapping up in 2023.
Recently, she shared insights about her time away from acting.
“It’s a show about Indian American families in Southern California. Honestly, if I hadn’t tackled that, what would have been wrong with me?” Kaling remarked during a Thursday interview with Hollywood Reporter. “I feel a bit superstitious, like, these projects seem to go well, and I’m not in them, so maybe I should just hold off.”
Now, she’s keen to return in front of the camera.
“I really miss it,” Kaling confessed. “I’d like to write or co-create shows that I can star in soon.”
While the “Late Night” alum didn’t specify particular projects, she expressed a desire to act while also providing creative input.
As she noted, doing both roles can be “incredibly fun and very efficient.” The last time she balanced those roles was during “The Mindy Project.”
“I want to do it again,” she said. “It would be enjoyable to launch some new projects in the pipeline over the next few years.”
Kaling’s recent co-creation was the Netflix sports comedy “Running Points,” which debuted in February and featured stars like Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, and Chet Hanks.
She also executive produced a 10-episode series for its second season.
In talking about her production company, Kaling addressed the challenge of maintaining a smaller operation.
“I’ve worked on a lot of different platforms. It’s not just about the money, although that often represents real excitement,” she explained. “I sometimes found myself pursuing projects for less pay if the enthusiasm was high.”
She mentioned the instability in the industry, noting, “It seems like people are changing jobs fast. I can’t recall a situation where a show creator stayed at it for more than two years with all the executive turnover.”
On the set of “Running Points,” the stars praised Kaling’s dedication. Recently, Hudson shared her admiration for Kaling, stating, “I absolutely fell in love with her. You can trust her; she assembles the best team.” Hudson highlighted Kaling’s determination, recalling that she was actively involved in script revisions just an hour after giving birth.
Kaling also previewed what’s coming up in the second season, expressing excitement about various plot developments. “Season 2 is looking great,” she said. “There’s a lot going on—there’s talk of romance, sex, and a little humor surrounding basketball.”
