Their long history, unusually close friendship, and deeply intertwined personal lives have fueled endless theories online, but Kaling is now addressing the rumors more directly than ever.
In a recent interview with Bustle, the actress opened up about why public fascination with Novak continues to follow them, even as she insists their relationship is not romantic.
Why Mindy Kaling Understands the Questions About B. J. Novak
Kaling acknowledged that from the outside, their connection can easily be misunderstood. Novak has remained a constant presence in her life since their days working together on “The Office,” and over time he became closely connected to her children as well. “He really is in our family, and I love talking about him because my kids adore him, and he’s such a huge part of our life. But I also know that it gives people a lot of ideas” she said,
The actress did not dismiss the speculation outright as absurd. Instead, she openly recognized why people continue trying to define a relationship that has never followed a conventional path. “If I was just watching it from the outside, I would have the same questions and the same reactions,” she stated.
Interest in the pair has only intensified over the years because Kaling has chosen not to publicly reveal the father of her children, while Novak remains heavily involved in their day to day family life. Internet theories have ranged from secret relationships to marriage rumors, particularly after repeated public appearances together and viral stories shared online. Novak is also the godfather to Kaling’s children, a detail that has kept speculation alive across social media platforms and celebrity gossip circles alike.
At the same time, Kaling made clear that romance is not currently driving her personal life. During the interview, she said she is no longer focused on actively searching for a partner. “I obviously have eyes and ears, and if there was someone that I had a crush on, of course I would react to that, but right now, there is not anyone out there,” she shared.
She also reflected on how different that mindset feels compared to the earlier stages of her career, when romantic pursuit shaped much of her work both on screen and in writing. “It is crazy for someone like me, who only wrote about the pursuit of romance for so much of my life, to be very happy and content without a partner,” Kaling said.
