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Mindy Kaling has made history. On Tuesday (Feb. 18), the actress, writer, and showrunner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first South Asian woman to earn this prestigious honor. Read more about this momentous occasion inside.
During the star dedication ceremony, Kaling, known for her sharp wit, opened with a playful remark.
“I’m so happy, I love recognition,” Kaling joked.
And yet, behind her beloved humor was deep gratitude for the moment.
“I am so grateful to the fans of my work and to the audiences who got me here, who believed in me enough to think that I actually was a star,” Mindy shared. “I’m incredibly grateful to anyone who took a chance on me.”
Her star is the 2,800th on the Walk of Fame, cementing her legacy in television. She has revolutionized the industry through her trailblazing work both in front of and behind the camera.
A Groundbreaking Achievement
Kaling took to Instagram to acknowledge the significance of this milestone.
“I was told after receiving my star that I was the first South Asian woman to have a star on the Walk of Fame. I’m humbled by that,” she wrote. “I am so proud to be South Asian, and I want to make my community proud of everything I do, but more importantly, I want to help usher in the next generation of South Asian stars.”
Check out her post:
Her impact on Hollywood extends far beyond her own career. By creating shows like Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever “and Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” she has paved the way for more diverse voices and stories to be told.
A Career Full of Achievements
Kaling first gained widespread recognition as Kelly Kapoor on “The Office,” where she was not only a standout performer but also one of the show’s writers and producers. Since then, she has written, produced, and acted in over 40 films and TV shows, including Ocean’s Eight, Inside Out, and “The Mindy Project.”
Beyond acting, Kaling has received numerous accolades, including the Producers Guild of America’s Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television and the National Medal of Arts in 2023.
During the ceremony, B.J. Novak, Kaling’s longtime friend and former “The Office” co-star, praised her achievements, calling her a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, an incredible mother, and a mentor to many.
With this latest honor, Kaling continues to break barriers, proving that representation in Hollywood isn’t just necessary—it’s unstoppable.
Congrats, Mindy!