In a candid interview with Glamour, Mindy Kaling revealed that her off-screen personality is quite different from the exuberant characters she portrays on television. She confessed to struggling with social anxiety, particularly in unfamiliar settings, stating, “People might be surprised to learn that I experience a bit of social anxiety. Attending parties where I don’t know most of the guests can be overwhelming for me. I’ve always kept my circle small.”
Kaling, who enjoys high-profile events like the Met Gala, admitted that her enjoyment is often overshadowed by the pressure of attending solo. “While I adore the Met Gala, the no-plus-one rule has always been a source of stress for me,” she shared. “Thankfully, the venue is a museum, which helps distract me. If it were just a regular event space, I’d probably feel the need to take something to calm my nerves before going.”
She recalled a particularly anxiety-inducing experience at the Hulu Upfronts, where she was preoccupied with her presentation for advertisers. The pressure to perform left her anxious about how she came across to fellow stars like Zoë Kravitz and Margot Robbie. “After our conversation, I couldn’t help but worry that they thought I was being rude or standoffish, when in reality, I was just anxious about my upcoming presentation,” Kaling reflected. “I went home feeling upset, thinking, If Margot Robbie thinks I’m snobby, that would really bother me! If I had the time, this would be something I’d discuss with a therapist.”
To cope with her anxiety before events, Kaling has found that exercise helps. “I love working out, but not for the sake of losing weight,” she explained. “It’s about the endorphin rush I get, which I seek out before something that makes me anxious.”
In her Glamour interview, she also touched on the misconception that audiences often conflate her characters with her real-life persona. As the loud and quirky Kelly Kapoor in The Office and the flirtatious Dr. Mindy Lahiri in The Mindy Project, Kaling feels that people overlook her dedication as a writer. “I think many people assume my characters reflect who I am in real life,” she said. “But I actually wrote more episodes of The Office than anyone else, which seems to be lost on people who see me in pink outfits, recreating Beyoncé videos. There’s an outdated view of me that doesn’t match my true self, and that can be disappointing.”
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In summary, Mindy Kaling bravely shared her personal experiences with social anxiety, highlighting the contrast between her on-screen characters and her true self. While she enjoys high-profile events, the pressure can be overwhelming, and she has found solace in exercise to manage her nerves. Ultimately, Kaling hopes to reshape the perception of her persona beyond the characters she portrays.