Actor, producer, and screenwriter Mindy Kaling has officially received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also become the first South Asian to receive this honour. Many of her close friends and industry peers, including BJ Novak, Brenda Song, and Macaulay Culkin, were seen present at the ceremony.
Dressed elegantly in black, Kaling unveiled her star as her close friend Novak delivered a heartfelt speech. As reported by People, he appreciated her as an "incredible mother of three" and celebrated her remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry.
BJ Novak Gives A Heartfelt Speech At The Ceremony
BJ Novak, Mindy's close friend and the godfather to her children, gave a heartfelt tribute to her during the ceremony. Novak highlighted Kaling’s trailblazing role as the only woman in The Office’s writers’ room in 2004, noting that she holds the most writing credits for the iconic NBC sitcom.
“Mindy respects and understands (fame) in a very intuitive way because, in addition to being a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, an incredible mother of three, a deep and caring daughter, friend, and mentor to many,” Novak added with humour, “Mindy is also, in her spare time, I assure you, very superficial.”
“You'd be on the Walk of Talent if they had one. You'd be on the Walk of Friendship. You'd be on the Walk of Compassionate Parenthood, but let's face it, all of these would be terrible field trips. So here you are instead, very deservedly, a person who means so much to so many on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." He said in his speech.
According to US Today, Novak also said, “Mindy, as I look around and see all these people from your life who have believed in you from the beginning, I’m just sorry that none of us doubted you, because I know how much more fun that would make this for you. But we couldn’t help it. We always knew you’d be famous, but we had no idea how beautifully you’d handle the job.”
He concluded on a sincere note, “So it’s high time your name joins those of your heroes right here on Hollywood Boulevard. Not just names like Mary Tyler Moore and Lucille Ball, but names like H&M and Zara. I know how much all of it means to you.”
Mindy Kaling's Legacy
We all probably know Mindy from her work in The Office, however, she not only acted in the show but also wrote and produced several of its episodes. She later created and starred in The Mindy Project, which ran for six seasons.
Her film credits include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Inside Out and Ocean’s 8 (alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and Rihanna). This honour has solidified Kaling’s impact in Hollywood, celebrating her contributions as a writer, performer, and creator of comedy.