Ask the average pop culture fan Mindy Kaling and they are likely to answer about her career as a writer, actor and general celebrity. They’ll probably credit her, to varying degrees, for a range of projects she’s been on or behind the scenes since “The Office,” but perhaps not the specifics of her work as a producer.
Kaling became a producer on “The Office,” but in 2012 Kaling founded International while launching her own sitcom, “The Mindy Project”. Since then, the company has produced original titles across the board film and television, from the aforementioned single-cam sitcom to recent hits such as “college girls sex life,” which finished its third season on Max. To celebrate another season, we decided to revisit each Kaling International title as a primer or refresher for those interested in her work.
As a producer, Kaling has also championed projects she wasn’t originally a part of — like Oscar nominee “To Kill a Tiger” and 2025 live-action short contender “Anuja” — but this list will stick to projects she was a part of beginning. It’s a list that keeps growing, and we can’t wait to see what happens next (“Running Point,” Feb. 27, Netflix).
Here are all Mindy Kaling productions (so far), ranked.
7. “Velma” (Max)
Kaling voices the eponymous teenager in this animated “Scooby Doo” prequel for adults, as part of a cast that includes Glenn Howerton, Sam Richardson, Constance Wu and many more. The series received early criticism, particularly for Velma’s vicious self-loathing – ire that was unfairly directed at Kaling, who wasn’t even credited as an author. The second season mercifully backs off on this, with Velma back to solving mysteries but having less toxic qualities (just routine stuff like faking the occult to make a cool new kid look less smooth). Despite the tired discussion of Season 1, it may have ended a longer trend of characters that could easily be mistaken for Kaling stand-ins voicing harmful stereotypes and insecurities. —PK
6. “The Sex Lives of College Girls” (Max)
I don’t know how else to say it, so I’ll go with it: “Sex Lives of College Girls” tickles the same part of my brain as “Emily in Paris.” It’s full of bright colors and wild outfits (Bela’s ties!), none of the characters act like normal people, and even though I recognize its objective flaws, I can’t stop watching. Whether for the same reason or not, many Max users have joined me in devouring the series, which premiered in 2021 and was co-created by Kaling and Justin Noble. The series follows – you guessed it – the sex lives of the four leads (Renee Rapp quits early in Season 3), along with their love lives, friendships, academic lives and career paths. The cast is always game for a physical gag or potent punchline (even if it’s clearly edited in), adding chemistry and warmth when the writing might lack it. It’s ultimately more of the adventure show of the week than anything deeper – which party are they going to? Who sleeps with whom? How have the girls’ goals changed? Did Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) just donate her eggs? — less grounded in the reality of the Gen Z experience than unleashing the chaotic undertones found in other Kaling projects. —PK
5. “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (Hulu)
Created by Kaling and “Mindy Project” alum Matt Warburton, this 2019 Hulu romantic dramedy is based on the 1994 film of the same name and follows four American friends in London for a wedding. When the wedding goes south, all of their romantic lives get tangled up and the show follows their foibles and flings. Some of the plots work better than others (Rebecca Rittenhouse’s Ainsley was typically compelling), but Kaling and Co. obviously knows how to write romantic sparks and a good meet-cute. Featuring a pre-‘Starstruck’ Nikesh Patel, as well as Nathalie Emmanuel, John Reynolds, Andie MacDowell and a very funny Dermot Mulroney, the mini-series never quite soars but it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable watch. —ES
4. “The Mindy Project” (Fox/Hulu)
Of course, longtime fans already loved Kaling from her on-screen and behind-the-scenes appearances on “The Office,” but Fox’s (and then Hulu’s) “The Mindy Project,” which premiered in 2012, is where she really found her on-screen groove. Starring OB-GYN Mindy Lahiri, the workplace and romantic comedy was, first and foremost, hilarious on a line-by-line level. The show had its highs and lows, but its strongest points — especially early season dates with a rotating roster of comedians, including Ben Feldman, Anders Holm, Mark Duplass, Bill Hader and BJ Novak (duh) — were rom-com heaven. Her interactions with co-worker and sometime boyfriend Danny (Chris Messina) were a joy to watch, and the supporting cast, especially Mindy Kaling World mainstay Ike Barinholtz, was consistently, memorably goofy. Kaling created a great alter-ego here, a girly, pop-culture-obsessed character that fans felt they knew — and wanted to see more of. —ES
3. “Champions” (NBC)
This one-season wonder from Kaling and Charlie Grandy barely had a chance to find the kind of audience networks want before earning renewal, which is a damn shame because it has a strong foundation. Josie Totah stars as a proud theater kid who moves to New York to attend a performing arts high school and lives with her father Vince (Anders Holm) for the first time ever. Raising a child forces Vince to quickly outgrow his bachelorhood, but it also turns out to be oddly fitting as he’s already used to feuding with younger brother Matthew (Andy Favreau) – who also lives with them – and the entire staff at Champions’ gym in Brooklyn. That’s right, “Champions” is a workplace comedy as well as a family odyssey, packed with joke after joke and surprising poignancy in between. Totah, Holm and Favreau have lovely chemistry, as does the wider ensemble, including Fortune Feimster, Ginger Gonzaga, Yassir Lester and more. —PK
2. “Late Night” (Universal)
Kaling wrote and starred in this 2019 workplace comedy about a young woman who manages to land a writing job on a late-night talk show with an iconic comedian, Katherine (Emma Thompson). The sharp script has a lot to say about women in comedy, privilege, nepotism and more, but (are you surprised?!) it’s also just a really sweet, funny, enjoyable comedy that’s less discussed than it deserves (despite strong reviews, the film only made $22 million at the box office). Kaling and Thompson are fantastic together – and a supporting cast that includes Reid Scott, Amy Ryan, Hugh Dancy and John Lighgow all have lovely turns. Kaling’s work has focused on TV — and she’s thrived there — but “Late Night” makes us hopeful she has more gigs in her future. —ES
1. “Never Have I Ever” (Netflix)
The top spot on this list was never in question, thanks to four seasons of quality work from Kaling and co-showrunner Lang Fisher. From the open casting call that introduced the world to Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to the stacked and diverse team of a perfect finale, “Never Have I Ever” wouldn’t have been possible without the work Kaling herself did for South Asian representation in Hollywood — ultimately creating the kind of show she and many of her fans probably would have loved when they were younger.
Ramakrishnan plays Devi, an academically driven and sexually frustrated teenager still processing her father’s death. At school, she is driven by her competition with rival Ben (Jaren Lewison), and in love with the dreamy Paxton (Darren Barnet); at home, she seeths over smart and beautiful cousin Kamala (Richa Moorjani) and constantly bickers with mother Nalini. “Never Have I Ever” stands out from Kaling’s other projects (and most other TV comedies, to be honest) by really letting the characters grow. Devi isn’t very likable at the top of the series, but through one relatable struggle after another, she matures into someone viewers can not only relate to, but watch with true pride. —PK
