You may know Mindy Kaling best from her starring role as Kelly Kapoor on The Office or from the projects she’s created, including Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls and The Mindy Project (which Kaling wrote and also starred in). But have you ever wondered about the star’s personal life and why she never decided to walk down the aisle?
The iconic Los Angeles-based actress, whose new show, Running Point with Kate Hudson, premieres tonight, Thursday, February 27, on Netflix, has mostly chosen to keep her relationships private, aside from her on-and-off one with The Office co-star B.J. Novak. Find out why Mindy Kaling says she doesn’t need to get married and everything she’s said about finding a partner.
Which star who never married do you want to read about next?
What Mindy Kaling has said about marriage
Many little girls think about their wedding days and having children and Mindy Kaling was no exception. However, as we get older and more experienced in life, things change and marriage may not be the first thing on our minds—this was also true for the comedian.
Kaling has briefly touched on the subject of marriage and her thoughts on it over the years, explaining it is not necessary for her anymore.
“When I was younger, I wanted so badly to be married and have kids in a rush,” she shared. “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.”
“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.” — Mindy Kaling
Kaling continued, “If I could relive the first three months of courtship over and over for the rest of my life, I would.”
Mindy Kaling’s previous relationships
Despite Kaling’s privacy around her family and love life, she did previously date B.J. Novak, having met in 2004 on the set of the comedy series The Office. For a few years, the two went through an on-and-off again relationship, ultimately breaking up in 2007. However, Kaling and Novak have remained close friends over the years, and she has called him an “important and integral part of my family.”
He’s even the godfather of her two oldest children and spoke on her behalf just recently after she received her star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
Mindy Kaling hasn’t revealed the father of her children
Despite her decision to never tie the knot with a partner, she has welcomed three children. Kaling is the mother of daughter Katherine Swati, son Spencer Avu and daughter Anne. However, the actress and writer has never revealed the identities of the father(s) of her children.
Fans have often speculated over who they might be, theorizing that it could be B.J. Novak, but Kaling hasn’t budged on her stance.
“He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship — and so far [the rumors haven’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” Kaling shared.
She also explained her reason for keeping the father’s identity a secret, sharing, “My feeling is that until I speak to my daughter about that, I’m not going to talk to anyone else about it.”
The actress also opened up about why she wanted to become a mother, explaining it was a lifelong dream.
“My kids are such a huge part of my life, and I knew growing up, I was always obsessed with romantic love and obsessing about boys,” Kaling said. “Even when I was 13 or 14 years old. I was never someone that boys wanted to date or do anything with, so it sort of made the passion and interest more intense.
“I was very boy-crazy with zero success, so I had this pent-up interest… a lot of projects I write and work on are about women who are obsessed with marriage. Both because I relate to it and because I think it’s really funny.”
