“I miss it” - Mindy Kaling talks about taking a break from acting

Mindy Kaling, actress, comedian, and producer of shows like The Sex Lives of College Girls and Never Have I Ever, recently talked about why she decided to take a sabbatical from performing at the Paley Media Council Series on June 5, 2025. Kaling gave an open glimpse into her beliefs about superstition, juggling parenting, and the desire to resume writing or co-creating a show.

Talking about her break from writing a show for her to act in, she said:

“I miss it.”

Mindy Kaling's decision to stay behind the camera, even though she co-wrote and created them, surprises many. She told The Hollywood Reporter that superstition helped explain why she didn't appear on sitcoms like Never Have I Ever, which centers on an Indian American girl who, like Kaling, grew up in Southern California. She stated:

“A show literally about an Indian American family in Southern California, and if I wasn’t on that—what’s wrong with me?”

She added:

“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.' ”

The show was a success on Netflix, running for four seasons without Kaling ever making an appearance. She said that not showing up may have turned into a kind of "good luck" charm.

Mindy Kaling acknowledges that she misses acting a lot and is eager to get back into a more involved part despite the layoff. Her next objective, she disclosed, is to write or co-create a project in which she may star, perhaps even assuming directorial responsibilities.

“I miss it. I would like to write or co-create a show for me to act in soon.”

She continued:

“I would love to do that again. That’s the thing that maybe in the next couple of years, when I launch a couple of other things that are earlier in the pipeline, that would be something that would be fun to do again.”

Although Kaling has not disclosed her next acting project, she made a suggestion that she intends to return to acting when some of her "earlier in the pipeline" creative endeavors are completed.

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Mindy Kaling on juggling motherhood and career

Mindy Kaling, who is now 42, is a mother of three. She has a daughter whom she gave birth to in 2017, a boy named Spencer who was born in 2020, and finally another daughter named Anne who was born in 2024.

Throughout her career, she has kept her personal life private, including the names of the fathers of her children.

That hasn't stopped her, though. Kate Hudson, who plays in the Netflix sports comedy Running Point, talked about Kaling's unwavering work ethic during the filming process.

“I have to say, I've fallen in love with this woman. And she's just not only so brilliant, but so trusting … she puts the best team together.”

Hudson was amazed by her ability to thrive under pressure:

“And she was pregnant. We had a script, like our first table read. She's on Zoom. She then has the baby and is sending notes, like an hour after she has the baby. I was like, ‘Isn’t Mindy literally in labor?’"

She concluded with:

"She is a powerhouse and delivers what she says she's going to deliver.”

Mindy Kaling is known for her likeable and relatable characters and humor based on social awkwardness and cultural identification, acknowledging that she likes to write about "strivers and dorks"- characters who she can relate to. Talking about how she enjoys darker and more edgy television series like Euphoria, which stars Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, she doesn't feel prepared to write about those shows:

"I love Euphoria' and I think [creator] Sam [Levinson] is like a genius. I think he has a lot to say about things like sex and drug use and addiction and those are incredibly interesting, but we don’t have a ton of experience in that."

She continued:

"I watch that show on the edge of my seat, vicariously, but I feel like nerds lusting over guys is more what we feel comfortable writing about so that’s why we do this. We write about strivers and dorks and people who are underestimated."

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Mindy Kaling's idea of success:

Despite the fact that no new project has been formally announced, Mindy Kaling's comments imply that a comeback to acting on the television screen is imminent. According to her interview with Variety, she seems ready to return, whether it's through a new series in which she serves as the lead or the supporting character.

“I wouldn’t have to be the lead in my own show if I was writing it. I would love to write a show for someone amazing and then play a supporting part in it.”

Mindy Kaling had modest early goals, she previously claimed:

“If I could just be a staff writer on even a terrible show, even if I could just be in the WGA and have health insurance and live in Los Angeles, I would be happy for the rest of my life.

However, her aspirations grew along with her popularity:

“My idea of success keeps changing and so I’m never happy, and that’s the writer’s disease.”

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