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Mindy Kaling brims with a powerful sense of creativity that has generated some of the most beloved television and film projects spanning her career.
The award-winning actress, comedian, producer, writer, director and author (including Why Not Me?, Nothing Like I Imagined and other titles) embraces her innovative visions and ideas through her many roles in her professional life, and in her role as a mother. Kaling said she notices creativity instilled in her 6-year-old daughter, who’s “so proud” when she finds a vibrantly-colored pen or marker to write and draw on any piece of paper she can find with at home. Kaling beamed, “I get to see the joy of her starting to write — her journey as a writer …it’s the most adorable thing.”
During a recent interview with iHeartRadio, Kaling spoke to her cleverly-written comedy, her work-life balance, an upcoming project with Kate Hudson and more. Some of Kaling’s most well-known and beloved roles in TV and film include Late Night (Molly Patel), Inside Out (Disgust), The Mindy Project (Mindy Lahiri) and The Office (Kelly Kapoor), to name a few. In many instances, she has balanced responsibilities by simultaneously serving as a writer and an actress, among her other roles, on the same project. Kaling noted that she wrote 24 episodes of The Office, and credited a looming deadline that she used to work with her self-proclaimed “procrastinator” personality to fuel her creativity and get the writing done (“I don't have the external pressure of, ‘Hey, this has to air,’ then I would be much less productive, I think,” she said with a laugh as she reminisced on her Dunder Mifflin days).
“I think when I get to be an actor in a project in addition to the writer, it's really so much fun and it's incredibly efficient because, for the writing staff to have your lead actor in the room who can read the lines aloud, it's such a quick way to tell if it's working or not,” Kaling said. “And so, it's both incredibly fun because I love being on camera, but it's also really — it's such a great shortcut for our writing staff. So, I find — I haven't done that in a while. The Mindy Project ended in 2017…so I haven't had the opportunity to do it in a minute, but it's something that I really, really miss. And it's honestly why I love working with writer-performers because on our show right now, we have a couple of writer-performers and it's just really wonderful to have that energy.”
Kaling is set to team up with fellow award-winning actress Hudson on a currently-untitled Netflix comedy. Kaling, who is writing and executive producing the show, said she “knew that (Hudson) was an incredible actress, but what's been great about the show is she's also this really great leader for the set, for the crew, for the other cast, and she's such a pro that she kind of knew that was her role. And I am just in awe of her.” The cast will also include Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Max Greenfield, Brenda Song and more, according to Netflix. The Mindy Project alumni Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen are reuniting with Kaling to write and executive produce the series.
“(Hudson) has a very full life, she has multiple businesses, three kids, and in the full-time job of being the star of a comedy show is so much work. So, I love seeing a woman who's around my age who is just such an effective leader and such a great artist at the same time, and a good mom. It's very inspiring to me,” she continued. “I try to pick up as much as I can from her. She's just an amazing person. …I think what's really nice about her is that she comes to work hyper prepared. And when she's here, she's completely committed to the work. And then also I know the urgency of, ‘I want to get home and see my family,’ too. So, it's great to have that in common. As a producer, I'm completely on the same page with her in terms of what our priorities are in life. …When those things are aligned, I think it makes the workflow really good.”
Kaling spoke to her creative processes during a recent Q&A as part of Sharpie and Paper Mate’s “Let’s Get Creative” campaign in hopes of sparking inspiration for new ideas. Recent survey findings show more than 75% of Americans credit a lack of confidence for holding back in exploring creativity in their own lives, per a press release issued earlier this month. The survey of 2,000 people also showed that nearly 80% of respondents describe themselves as creative people, though 71% of respondents stated that time is a significant constraint for them. Thirty-seven % of respondents consider writing, drawing, doodling, painting and other forms of creativity to relieve stress in their lives. Gen Z respondents appeared to feel the strongest urge to create, with 94% of them feeling as though it’s a reflection of their personal brand, findings show. Kaling, in teaming up with the brands and hosting the Q&A at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, said trying the Creative Markers and Gel Bright! Pens has made some tasks — including journaling — “even more fun and creative.”
“(There are) so many different facets of the creativity in my life. I feel lucky that I get to make my living as a comedy writer. There's obviously the joy I feel like when I go to work and just creating these comedic situations. And I feel like life is so hard that bringing some comedy into the world is just amazing,” Kaling shared with iHeartRadio. She added, when asked about her advice to people who lack confidence after reviewing the survey findings: “I think creativity is just incredibly daunting to a lot of people, particularly if you don't make your living in the creative arts. And I think having the right tools to express yourself just makes a huge difference. …I love it, and like I said before, I love sharing them with my children who are just at the beginning of that journey.”
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