Mindy Kaling, photographed on March 1, 2022.
(Chantal Anderson / Trunk Archive)
At the end of her 2020 memoir, “Nothing Like I Imagined (Except Sometimes),” Mindy Kaling gives readers a glimpse into her typical day, juggling her responsibilities as a single mother and Hollywood producer.
“From my Instagram, you might think my life is about wearing fashionable clothes and going to panels about women's empowerment,” she writes. “It turns out that being a producer is exactly like writing for my show, but with less credit, less control, and a thousand more meetings. It can also be a lot of fun.”
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Casually breaking up a calendar packed with mothering duties, self-care, creativity and, yes, many, many meetings with her trademark mix of confidence and self-deprecation, Kaling's charmingly accessible prose demystifies a nebulous job in the entertainment industry while keeping Kaling identifiable. .
In fact, Kaling's ID might be his real superpower.
Since then, she's channeled the quality that made her famous on “The Office” and “The Mindy Project” into the behind-the-scenes power of a multi-hyphenate who understands pop culture-obsessed audiences from the inside out. And after making her mark as an actress, screenwriter, producer and best-selling author, the 44-year-old continues to add roles to her resume: In 2022, Kaling expanded her global publishing footprint by partnering with Amazon on her own imprint, Mindy's. Book Studio, which champions emerging voices, especially women of color.
“If I could contribute and help other incredibly talented women, mostly women of color, and emerging writers, then that would be fantastic.”
-Mindy Kaling
“I've worked very hard to get to a place where I have this platform,” Kaling explained during an October appearance on the “Today” show. “If I could give back and help other incredibly talented women, mostly women of color, and emerging writers, then that would be fantastic.”
The new tile also has the potential to become an outlet for Kaling's still-vibrant work as a television maker, particularly in a hot market for intellectual property. Great news for those who have repeatedly binged Kaling-created shows like “Never Have I Ever” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”
May it continue to offer the public even more stories that they love and, of course, with which they identify.
