Is B.J. Novak Mindy Kaling's husband? Exploring their unique bond

Is B.J. Novak Mindy Kaling's husband? Exploring their unique bond

Fans have been curious about Mindy Kaling's husband after B.J. Novak gave a speech full of praise and inside jokes during her induction to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2025. However, the Never Have I Ever creator explained her indifference to the marriage institution, saying,

It would be wonderful to have a husband, and I would feel blessed to do it. But I would feel sad for the rest of my life if I had no kids.
B.J. Novak is rumoured to be Mindy Kaling's husband
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak dated on and off between 2004 and 2007 during the early years of The Office. Photo: @Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Mindy has no husband and has never been married before.
  • Kaling gained fame as Kelly Kapoor on The Office (2005–2013), where she was also a writer and producer.
  • Mindy has been rumoured to be married to B.J. Novak, her long-time close friend.
  • Although they are not a real couple, Mindy has always spoken highly of Novak, including sparing him a shoutout during her speech at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
  • The American star has expressed that she is not interested in getting married.

Read also

Who is Gaten Matarazzo’s girlfriend? All About Elizabeth Yu and their relationship

Mindy Kaling's profile summary

Full nameVera Mindy Chokalingam
GenderFemale
Date of birthJune 24, 1979
Age45 years old (as of March 2025)
Place of birthCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Current residenceHancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
Nationality American
EthnicityAsian
Height5 feet 4 inches
Weight65 kg (approx)
FatherAvu Chokalingam
MotherSwati Roysircar
SiblingsVijay Chokalingam
Relationship status Single
ChildrenKatherine, Spencer, and Anne
EducationDartmouth College (1997–2001), Buckingham Browne & Nichols Upper School
Profession Actress and comedian
Net worth $45 million
Social mediaInstagramFacebookX (Twitter)

Is B.J. Novak Mindy Kaling's husband?

Novak, an American actor and comedian, is not Mindy Kaling's partner. Despite their long-standing and close friendship, the actors have consistently denied having a marital relationship.

However, during a radio interview, the actress revealed that she would have accepted if Novak had asked her to marry him during their time together. Mindy said,

Read also

Lamorne Morris' wife: Is the New Girl star married to Nasim Pedrad?

For the record, if anyone asked me to marry me, I would have said yes.
Mindy Kaling at 92NY
Mindy Kaling at Netflix's "Running Point" Mindy Kaling and Kate Hudson In Conversation With Versha Sharma at 92NY on March 05, 2025, in New York City. Photo by Jason Mendez
Source: Original

Did Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak's date?

Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak dated on and off between 2004 and 2007 during the early years of The Office. In an interview with the Vulture, she explained how their once romantic relationship spanned to real friendship. Mindy said,

We dated on and off for a couple of years, and now we are just, like, best friends. Like, real best friends. It’s the kind of friendship you have when you are embedded with someone, that you can only get by putting in that insane amount of time with people.

Mindy also talked about the dynamics of their relationship, describing it as romantically charged camaraderie with loud arguments. She said,

I will freely admit: My relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell. He is not my boyfriend, but he is not my best friend. I guess you could describe our relationship as a 'romantically charged camaraderie with loud arguments,' but I don't think Facebook would accept this as a new status.

Read also

The biography of Elle Duncan: Parents, husband and story of the ESPN anchor

Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 2nd Annual Gala presented by Rolex on October 15, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stefanie Keenan
Source: Getty Images

Who is Mindy Kaling's baby's father?

Mindy Kaling has not publicly disclosed the father's identity of her three children, Katherine, Spencer, and Anne. However, there have been speculations that her long-time friend, B.J. Novak, is the father of her children.

However, Mindy refuted these claims and revealed that Novak is the godfather to her kids. She said,

He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship — and so far [the rumors haven’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,

During an interview with the New York Times, Kaling revealed that she is not ready to discuss the father of her kids until she discusses the issue with her daughter Katherine Swati. She said,

My feeling is that until I speak to my daughter about that, I’m not going to talk to anyone else about it.

Read also

Michelle Randolph's husband: Is the actress married? All about her love life

Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak at the 2018 LA Film Festival - Gala
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak at the 2018 LA Film Festival - Gala Screening of 'The Oath' at ArcLight Hollywood on September 25, 2018, in Hollywood, California. Photo by Jerod Harris
Source: Getty Images

Did Mindy Kaling ever get married?

Mindy Kaling is not married and has never been married. During an interview, the American writer expressed that she did not want marriage despite desiring it when she was young. She said,

When I was younger, I wanted so badly to be married and have kids in a rush. But now, "I don't need marriage. I don't need anyone to take care of all my needs and desires. I can take care of them myself now.

Mindy Kaling's dating history

In addition to Mindy Kaling's on-and-off relationship with B.J. Novak, the American top actress also dated Benjamin Nugent between 2008 and 2012. Nugent is a renowned author best known for writing American Nerd: The Story of My People and Good Kids, published in 2009. The former couple attended multiple events but kept specifics about their relationship private.

Read also

Joe Machi's illness rumours, career, biography: Everything about the comedian

Who is B.J. Novak's wife?

Novak is not married and has kept his relationships private. His only public relationship is with Mindy Kaling.

Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak at FYC Panel
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak at FYC Panel for 'The Mindy Project' at UCB Sunset Theater on June 8, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jerod Harris
Source: Getty Images

Trivia

  • Mindy's real name is Vera Mindy Chokalingam. She shortened her last name to Kaling for simplicity in her career.
  • She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2001 with a degree in theatre and was involved in improv comedy and an acappella group called the Rockapellas.
  • Mindy founded her production company, Kaling International, in 2012.
  • Vera has written two memoirs, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Why Not Me?, both of which became New York Times bestsellers.
  • Her Netflix series Never Have I Ever is partially based on her experiences growing up as an Indian-American teen.
  • Mindy Kaling's net worth is estimated at $45 million.
  • Her parents are Avu Chokalingam and Swati Roysircar.
  • Vera has been rumoured to be married to B.J. Novak, a famous actor and comedian.
  • Mindy has received six Primetime Emmy nominations and won a Tony Award as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.

Read also

Meet Joe Rogan's daughters: All about Kayja Rose, Lola, and Rosy

Details about Mindy Kaling's husband have remained a hot topic among fans. However, she has explained that she is not looking forward to marriage. Additionally, she has chosen to keep her personal life private, including the identity of her children's father and her marital status.

READ ALSO: Is Aishah Hasnie married?

Briefly.co.za published an article about Aisha Hasnie, a renowned Pakistani-American Fox News journalist. Explore facts about the renowned journalist's private life.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bennett Yates avatar

Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over five years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He started working for Briefly in 2019. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.