Ask the common popular culture fan about Mindy Kaling and so they’ll doubtless reply about her profession as a author, actor, and basic superstar. They’ll most likely credit score her, to various levels, for a variety of tasks she’s been on or behind the scenes of since “The Workplace,” however perhaps not the specifics of her work as producer.
Kaling turned a producer on “The Workplace,” however in 2012 based Kaling Worldwide on the similar time that she launched her personal sitcom, “The Mindy Undertaking.” Since then, the corporate has produced authentic titles throughout movie and tv, from the aforementioned single-cam sitcom to latest hits like “The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women,” which concluded its third season on Max. To have a good time one other season, we determined to revisit each Kaling Worldwide title as a primer or refresher for these curious about her work.
As a producer, Kaling has additionally championed tasks that she wasn’t a part of from the start — like Oscar nominees “To Kill a Tiger” and the 2025 live-action quick contender “Anuja” — however this record will stick with tasks she was with from the start. It’s an inventory that retains rising, and we will’t wait to see what’s subsequent (“Operating Level,” February 27, Netflix).
Right here’s each Mindy Kaling manufacturing (up to now), ranked.
7. “Velma” (Max)
Kaling voices the eponymous teen sleuth on this animated “Scooby Doo” prequel for adults, as a part of a forged that features Glenn Howerton, Sam Richardson, Constance Wu, and plenty of extra. The sequence earned early criticism significantly for Velma’s vicious self-loathing — ire which was unfairly directed at Kaling, who wasn’t even credited as a author. The second season mercifully pulls again on this, with Velma again to fixing mysteries however sporting much less poisonous traits (simply routine stuff like faking the occult to make a cool new child look much less clean). Regardless of the weary Season 1 discourse, it could have ended an extended development of characters that would simply be mistaken for Kaling stand-ins voicing dangerous stereotypes and insecurities. —PK
6. “The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women” (Max)
I don’t understand how else to say this so I’m going for it: “Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women” tickles the identical a part of my mind as “Emily in Paris.” It’s filled with vivid colours and wild outfits (Bela’s ties!), not one of the characters behave like regular human beings, and regardless of recognizing its goal shortcomings, I can’t cease watching. Whether or not it’s for a similar causes or not, loads of Max customers have joined me in devouring the sequence, which premiered in 2021 and was co-created by Kaling and Justin Noble. The sequence follows — you guessed it — the intercourse lives of its 4 leads (Renee Rapp exits early in Season 3), together with their love lives, friendships, educational lives, and profession trajectories. The forged is all the time sport for a bodily gag or potent punchline (even when it’s clearly been edited in), including chemistry and heat once they writing could lack it. It’s in the end extra of an adventure-of-the-week present than something deeper — which social gathering are they going to? Who’s sleeping with whom? How have the ladies’ objectives shifted? Did Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) simply donate her eggs? — much less keyed into the truth of the Gen Z expertise than unleashing the chaotic undertones current in different Kaling tasks. —PK
5. “4 Weddings and a Funeral” (Hulu)
Created by Kaling and “Mindy Undertaking” alum Matt Warburton, this 2019 Hulu romantic dramedy is predicated on the 1994 movie of the identical identify and follows 4 American associates in London for a marriage. When the marriage goes south, all their romantic lives get entangled and the present follows their foibles and flings. Among the plots work higher than others (Rebecca Rittenhouse’s Ainsley was sometimes compelling), however Kaling and Co. clearly know write romantic sparks and a great meet-cute. Starring a pre-“Starstruck” Nikesh Patel, in addition to Nathalie Emmanuel, John Reynolds, Andie MacDowell and a really enjoyable Dermot Mulroney, the miniseries by no means fairly soars but it surely nonetheless is a solidly gratifying watch. —ES
4. “The Mindy Undertaking” (Fox/Hulu)
Longtime followers in fact already liked Kaling from her onscreen and behind-the-scenes work on “The Workplace,” however Fox’s (after which Hulu’s) “The Mindy Undertaking,” which premiered in 2012, is the place she actually discovered her on-screen groove. Starring as OB-GYN Mindy Lahiri, the office and romantic comedy was, to start with, hilarious on a line-for-line stage. The present had peaks and valleys, however the strongest stuff — significantly early season dud dates with a rolling record of comedians, together with Ben Feldman, Anders Holm, Mark Duplass, Invoice Hader, and B.J. Novak (duh) — was rom-com heaven. Her interaction with co-worker and sometimes-boyfriend Danny (Chris Messina) was a delight to observe, and the supporting forged, significantly Mindy Kaling World mainstay Ike Barinholtz, was constantly, memorably goofy. Kaling created an important alter-ego right here, a girlie, pop culture-obsessed character that followers felt like they knew — and needed to see extra from. —ES
3. “Champions” (NBC)
This one-season surprise from Kaling and Charlie Grandy barely had an opportunity to seek out the sort of viewers that networks need earlier than incomes renewal, which is a rattling disgrace as a result of it has a robust basis. Josie Totah stars as an out-and-proud theatre child who strikes to New York to attend a performing arts highschool and finally ends up dwelling for the primary time ever with father Vince (Anders Holm). Elevating a baby forces Vince to rapidly develop out of his bachelor period, but in addition proves oddly becoming since he’s already used to wrangling youthful brother Matthew (Andy Favreau) — who additionally lives with them — and all the workers at Champions gymnasium in Brooklyn. That’s proper, “Champions” is a office comedy in addition to a household odyssey, packed to bursting with joke after joke and stunning poignancy in between. Totah, Holm, and Favreau have pleasant chemistry, as does the broader ensemble together with Fortune Feimster, Ginger Gonzaga, Yassir Lester, and extra. —PK
2. “Late Night time” (Common)
Kaling wrote and starred on this 2019 office comedy a few younger lady who lucks right into a author job at a late-night speak present starring an iconic comic, Katherine (Emma Thompson). The sharp script has a lot to say about ladies in comedy, privilege, nepotism and extra, however (are you shocked?!) it’s additionally only a actually candy, enjoyable, gratifying comedy that’s lesser-discussed than it deserves (regardless of sturdy opinions, the movie made simply $22 million in theaters). Kaling and Thompson are nice collectively — and a supporting forged that features Reid Scott, Amy Ryan, Hugh Dancy, and John Lighgow all have pleasant turns. Kaling’s work has targeted on TV — and he or she’s thrived there — however “Late Night time” makes us hopeful she has extra function turns in her future. —ES
1. “By no means Have I Ever” (Netflix)
The highest spot on this record was by no means in dispute, because of 4 seasons of high quality work from Kaling and co-showrunner Lang Fisher. From the open casting name that launched the world to Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to the stacked and various workforce to an ideal finale, “By no means Have I Ever” wouldn’t have been potential with out the work Kaling herself did for South Asian illustration in Hollywood — in the end creating the sort of present that she and plenty of of her followers most likely would have liked once they had been youthful.
Ramakrishnan stars as Devi, an academically pushed and sexually pissed off teen who’s nonetheless processing her father’s loss of life. In school, she’s pushed by her competitors with rival Ben (Jaren Lewison), and crush on the dreamy Paxton (Darren Barnet); at dwelling, she seethes over good and delightful cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani) and continuously butts heads with mom Nalini. “By no means Have I Ever” stands out from Kaling’s different tasks (and most different TV comedies, if we’re being sincere) by actually letting its characters develop. Devi will not be particularly likable on the prime of the sequence, however via one relatable wrestle after the following, she matures into somebody that viewers can’t solely relate to, however have a look at with true satisfaction. —PK