Mindy Kaling, once well-known for her frequent appearances in comedy roles, has not been seen much on television or film recently, raising questions about the Mindy Kaling absence from on-screen acting roles. Although she continues to make an impact as a creator and writer for several television series—including Never Have I Ever, Running Point, and The Sex Lives of College Girls—her work has primarily shifted behind the scenes.
Superstition Behind Not Taking On-Screen Parts
Kaling last acted in a film in 2021 with Locked Down, and her most recent television presence was a brief cameo on her series The Sex Lives of College Girls in 2023. During a recent panel at the Paley Media Council Series, she revealed the reason for her limited on-screen participation. The former The Office star shared that a personal superstition plays a large part in her decision not to cast herself in her own projects, including the Netflix show Never Have I Ever, which draws inspiration from her experiences growing up in Southern California as an Indian American.
“A show literally about an Indian American family in Southern California, and if I wasn’t on that—what’s wrong with me?”
—Mindy Kaling, Paley Media Council Series
“I think there is a part of me that feels a little superstitious. I’m like, these seem to have gone well and I’m not in them so maybe I’ll wait.”
—Mindy Kaling, Paley Media Council Series
Balancing Parenthood and Creative Work
Aside from her professional life, Kaling is focusing on raising her three children. However, she admitted to the audience that acting is something she still misses and is considering a return to on-screen roles. She expressed interest in developing or co-creating a new show where she would also perform, stating that managing both writing and starring in a project is rewarding and productive.
“Unbelievably fun and it’s so efficient.”
—Mindy Kaling, Paley Media Council Series
“I would love to do that again,”
she said.
“That’s the thing that maybe in the next couple years, when I launch a couple other things that are earlier in the pipeline, that would be something that would be fun to do again.”
—Mindy Kaling, Paley Media Council Series
Recent Work and Future Prospects
Kaling’s latest series, the sports-themed comedy Running Point, is currently available to stream on Netflix and has been approved for a second season. Her successful shift away from acting to focus on writing and creating has allowed her to stay active in the industry, while the ongoing speculation about her on-screen comeback remains. Her comments suggest that audiences, as well as her children, might soon see her taking on a new acting role, driven both by her creative ambitions and her connection to her own stories.
