Wedding Time": Mindy Kaling's Unique Take On Nuptial Tradition

Mindy Kaling has been famously private about her personal life, but she has given some hints about her views on marriage. Kaling, who has never been married, has said that she doesn't need marriage and that she can take care of her needs and desires herself. She has also stated that she is not in the friends with [her] exes camp, although she remains close with her former partner and co-star B.J. Novak. Kaling has also addressed speculation about her relationship status, taking to Twitter to proclaim: Normalize unmarried women wearing rings on their ring finger without a hubbub.

Mindy Kaling's relationship status

Mindy Kaling has kept her romantic relationships private, but she has been linked to several men over the years.

Kaling has been romantically involved with her The Office costar and fellow writer B.J. Novak, with whom she has described having a "romantically charged camaraderie." The pair dated on and off from 2005 to 2007 and have remained close friends since. Kaling has also stated that Novak is the godfather to her two children.

Following her relationship with Novak, Kaling dated American author and writer Benjamin Nugent from 2008 to 2012.

Kaling has also been linked to politician Cory Booker, although the nature of their relationship is unclear.

In 2023, Kaling sparked marriage rumors when she was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her ring finger during a dinner in Santa Monica. She later took to Twitter to address the speculation, writing, "Normalize unmarried women wearing rings on their ring finger without a hubbub."

Kaling has never publicly confirmed any engagement or shared details about the father of her two children. However, she has stated that she is happy for people to assume that Novak is the father, as he is such a big part of her family.

Kaling's views on marriage

Mindy Kaling has been notoriously private about her personal life, including her romantic relationships and her children. She has never publicly confirmed any engagement or shared details about her partner or the father of her two children. However, she has offered some insights into her views on marriage in various interviews and public appearances.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Kaling shared that she does not feel the need to get married. She stated, "I don't need marriage. I don't need anyone to take care of all my needs and desires...I can take care of them myself now." This sentiment reflects her strong sense of independence and self-sufficiency. Kaling has achieved tremendous success in her career and has proven herself capable of fulfilling her own needs and desires.

Despite her reluctance to marry, Kaling has expressed a desire for companionship and acknowledged the importance of having a supportive partner. In an interview with American Way Magazine, she shared her observations about the dynamics of married couples, particularly when the wife has a demanding full-time job. She noted that this can be a significant source of stress in many marriages. Kaling's comments suggest that she is aware of the challenges that come with balancing a career and a romantic relationship, and she may be cautious about navigating those challenges herself.

While Kaling has chosen to keep the details of her romantic life private, she has been linked romantically to several individuals, including Benjamin Nugent, B.J. Novak, and Cory Booker. She has described B.J. Novak as a close friend and "family" and has stated that he will always be a part of her life. However, she has also clarified that she is not in the "friends-with-my-exes" camp, drawing a boundary between her platonic and romantic relationships.

In conclusion, Mindy Kaling's views on marriage are shaped by her independence, self-sufficiency, and experiences as a single parent. She values her privacy and has chosen to keep certain aspects of her life, including her romantic relationships, away from the public eye. While she has not ruled out the possibility of marriage entirely, she feels content and fulfilled without it, focusing on her career and her role as a mother.

The father of Kaling's children

Mindy Kaling has never publicly confirmed the identity of the father of her children. She has also never shared any details about her partner. In a 2022 interview with Marie Claire, Kaling explained her reasoning for keeping her children's paternity private: "I want them to be old enough to talk to me about it. I’m the only parent my kids have [...] I think I err on the side of super cautious so that there’s less things they can potentially be mad at me about down the line."

Kaling has referred to herself as a single parent and has called her first pregnancy an "unexpected surprise". She has also stated that she wants to keep her children out of the spotlight and has not revealed their faces on social media. However, she has shared some details about her children's personalities and milestones.

While Kaling has never confirmed the father's identity, she has addressed speculation that her longtime colleague, former boyfriend, and close friend B.J. Novak is the father. In the same 2022 Marie Claire interview, Kaling noted that Novak is the godparent to both her children and that the persistent rumours about him do not bother her. "They have such a great relationship, she said. "If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it."

Kaling's views on privacy

Mindy Kaling has been notoriously private about her personal life, including her children and her relationships. She has chosen to keep her children out of the spotlight and has not revealed their father's identity. In an interview with Marie Claire, Kaling opened up about her decision to protect her children's privacy. She stated that she wants them to be old enough to decide how they want to be portrayed in the public eye. As a solo mom, she feels it is her responsibility to be cautious and safeguard their privacy.

Kaling has also kept her romantic relationships under wraps. Despite speculation and rumours, she has never publicly confirmed any engagement or shared details about her partner. However, she has offered glimpses into her happy family life and spoken about the joys of being a mother. While she may not share many details, Kaling has expressed her belief that her professional life is the only thing she has control over, while her romantic life remains more mysterious.

The actress and writer has also addressed the challenges of being a parent in the public eye. She recognises that her children will be subject to scrutiny because of her line of work and wants to ensure they have control over how they are portrayed on social media. Kaling's decision to prioritise her children's privacy and give them a chance to tell their own stories is a testament to her commitment to safeguarding their well-being.

Despite her privacy, Kaling has shared some insights into her views on marriage and relationships. In an interview with American Way Magazine, she discussed the stress that can arise in marriages when wives have demanding full-time jobs. However, she has kept her personal views on marriage largely private, neither confirming nor denying any speculation about her own relationship status.

In conclusion, Mindy Kaling's views on privacy are centred around protecting her children and maintaining boundaries between her personal and professional lives. She prioritises her children's privacy and well-being, choosing to keep them out of the spotlight and allowing them to control their own narratives. Additionally, she keeps her romantic relationships private, offering only glimpses into her happy family life. Kaling's approach to privacy reflects her commitment to safeguarding her family and maintaining a separation between her public career and personal life.

Kaling's career

Mindy Kaling, born Vera Mindy Chokalingam, is an Indian-American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1979, to a Tamil architect father and a Bengali obstetrician/gynecologist mother, who had immigrated to the United States from India. Kaling attended Dartmouth College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in playwriting in 2001.

In 2004, Kaling was hired as a writer and performer on the NBC sitcom The Office. She played the role of Kelly Kapoor and also served as a writer, executive producer, and director. Her work on The Office earned her several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.

In 2012, Kaling created, produced, and starred in the Fox/Hulu sitcom The Mindy Project, which was inspired by some events in her early life. The show ran for six seasons and concluded in 2017. During this time, she also pursued film roles, appearing in No Strings Attached (2011), The Five-Year Engagement (2012), A Wrinkle in Time, and Ocean's 8 (both 2018), among others.

Kaling has since created several television shows, including Champions (2018), Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019), Never Have I Ever (2020-2023), and The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021-present). She has also continued to work in film, writing and starring in Late Night (2019) and voicing characters in animated films such as Wreck-It Ralph and Inside Out. In addition to her acting and writing work, Kaling founded the production company Kaling International in 2012 and has published three memoirs, all of which have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Frequently asked questions