American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Mindy Kaling was born Vera Mindy on June 24, 1979. She rose to fame by playing Kelly Kapoor in the 2005–2013 NBC sitcom The Office, on which she also worked as a writer, executive producer, and director.
She was a candidate for an Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award for her work on the show.
Why did Mindy Kaling change her name?
Following graduation, Kaling relocated to Brooklyn, New York. Working as a production assistant for three months on the psychic talk show Crossing Over With John Edward, according to Kaling, was one of her worst work experiences. It’s “depressing,” she said.
Kaling gave a stand-up comedy performance at the same time. Kaling came up with her stage name after realizing that emcees would have difficulties pronouncing her last name, Chokalingam, and occasionally made jokes about it while performing stand-up comedy.
Prior to his appearance on The Office, Craig Robinson and she both performed on tour.
In order to use her middle name from the vintage comedy series “Chokalingnam,” Kaling reduced her last name to “Chokalingnam” for her stage name.
