Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak's Friendship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

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Mindy KalingandB.J. Novak’srelationship proves that exes can stay friends.

The Officecostars, whose off-screen relationship was on and off like their beloved characters, have maintained their friendship through the years. “Complicated,” is the word Novak used to describe their relationship to PEOPLE in 2014. “A really complicated person and a really complicated friendship, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” he said.

Friends since they met while working onThe Officein 2004, Kaling and Novak have been vocal about their now-platonic love for each other. They’ve helped each other on creative projects, attended each other’sred carpetpremieres, and in 2017, Novak officially became a member of Kaling’s family when he became her daughter’sgodfather.

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“It isn’t the thing that people sometimes think it is,” Kaling said in a2019 interviewonCBSSunday Morning. “But he’s really part of my family now, which is great. Even though that’s less of a sexy characterization of our relationship, I think it’s a deeper and a closer one.”

2004: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak meet while working onThe Office

Dean Hendler/NBCU Photo Bank

Kaling and Novak met in 2004 when they began working on the Emmy-winning NBC seriesThe Office.As both writers and performers on the show, Kaling and Novak had a lot of creative control over their characters, Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard.

2004: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak start dating

Though it’s not known exactly when Kaling and Novak started dating, they did embark on an on-again, off-again relationship in the show’s early years.

“No one, including us, ever really knew, ‘Is this dating? Is this not dating?’ We were never really dating, we were never really not dating,” Novak toldVulturein 2012. “We didn’t know. No one knew. All you’d know for sure was that you’d always find one of us next to the other, even if we weren’t getting along.”

February 9, 2006: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak’s characters onThe Officeget together

In the “Valentine’s Day” episode of Season 2 ofThe Office, Kaling and Novak’s characters finally got together, kickstarting their off-and-on relationship.

“Sometimes viewers would ask, ‘Are Ryan and Kelly together right now, not together?’ It’s not even that I wouldn’t know. I thought the question was missing the point,” Novak continued toVulture. “I think it was sort of expressive of the relationship that we were in.”

2007: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak end their on-again, off-again relationship

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Kaling and Novak’s off-screen romance seemingly ended for good in 2007, though their friendship didn’t change. “In real life, I think we just essentially grew up and it became more of a transition,“saidNovak.

August 10, 2009: Mindy Kaling supports B.J. Novak at the Los Angeles premiere ofInglourious Basterds.

Kaling supported Novak at the L.A. premiere ofQuentin Tarantino’sInglourious Basterds.In the WWII film, Novak plays Private First Class Smithson Utivitch alongsideBrad Pitt.

May 10, 2012: Mindy Kaling leavesThe Office

On May 10, 2012, the season 8 finale ofThe Officeaired, Kaling’s final episode as a series regular. She left the show to focus on her Fox and eventual Hulu show,The Mindy Project.

Novak followed suit halfway through season 9, later revealing on a 2021 episode of theArmchair Expertpodcast withDax Shepardthat it was mostly due to burnout: “Sometimes, you just know when it’s time.”

In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Novak admitted that it can be difficult for his and Kaling’s partners to understand their relationship.

“We are pretty inseparable best friends with a lot of chemistry ourselves, and we’re not dating,” he said. “Whenever we date anyone else, I think there’s a period where the person is very skeptical of our friendship.”

January 29, 2013: B.J. Novak makes an appearance onThe Mindy Project

Beth Dubber/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal

Kaling tapped Novak to help her produce the first season ofThe Mindy Project, and he even had a three-episode character arc. On the show, he played Jamie, one of Mindy Lahiri’s love interests.

The duo again based their characters' relationship on their own while also referencing the iconic filmWhen Harry Met Sallywith their co-written episode “Harry and Sally.”

May 6, 2013: B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling attend the 2013 Met Gala together

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

“We woulda gone punk even if it wasn’t the theme,” she later captioned an Instagramselfiewith Novak from the event.

May 16, 2013: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak’s characters onThe Officerun away together in the series finale

The Officeofficially came to an end on May 16, 2013. After leaving the show a year prior, Kaling and Novak returned for the series finale.

In the final episode, Kelly and Ryan get their own version of happily ever after, running away together and ditching their responsibilities at Dwight Schrute and Angela Martin’s wedding.

July 31, 2013: Mindy Kaling calls B.J. Novak her “soup snake”

In a cuteOfficereference, Kaling called Novak her “soup snake” in abirthday tributeon Twitter, a running joke between the pair.

The term “soup snakes” comes from an episode in season 7 whereSteve Carell’sMichael Scott confuses his own handwriting, reading “soup snakes” rather than “soul mates” in a written love confession.

March 2, 2014: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak attend theVanity FairOscars party together

Mark Sullivan/WireImage

Kaling and Novak kicked off their cute tradition of attending theVanity FairOscars party together in 2014.

The pair also attended the bash together in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and2022. Before the 2018 party, Kaling shared avideoof the two en route, saying, “I’m headed out for a night of fun with my best friend.”

September 15, 2014: Mindy Kaling admits that B.J. Novak once broke her heart

On Sept. 15, 2014, Kaling went on theHoward Sternshow andspilledabout her previous relationship with Novak, saying that had he proposed at the time, she would have said yes.

She also shared that it was Novak who initiated their final breakup. “He broke up with me,” she said. “It was years and years ago that that breakup happened. I was so sad, not angry, sad.”

May 7, 2015: Mindy Kaling breaks down her complicated relationship with B.J. Novak

Kevin Mazur/VF17/WireImage

In a 2015 profile forInStyle, Kaling got a lot of fans' hopes up after opening up about her complicated friendship with Novak.

“I will freely admit: My relationship with BJ Novak is weird as hell,” she said. “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.”

November 15, 2016: B.J. Novak reprises his role onThe Mindy Project

Chris Haston/Universal Television/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal

Novak reprised his role as Jamie in season 5 ofThe Mindy Project. On the show, Mindy Lahiri and Jamie share a quick kiss after one too many shots at a party.

“I was doubly happy to come back toThe Mindy Project, but I never ask. It’s just not my style,” Novak said of the role in aninterviewwithGlamourmagazine. “I’d never ask for a favor from Mindy because she’d do it,” he continued.

June 8, 2017: Mindy Kaling celebrates National Best Friends Day with an Instagram tribute to B.J. Novak

“Best friend isn’t a person, it’s a tier,” she wrote in the caption, again quoting herOfficecharacter.

She also continued theWhen Harry Met Sallyreferences, noting that the pair were dressed as the fictional best friends in the photo.

December 15, 2017: Mindy Kaling gives birth to daughter Katherine Swati and names B.J. Novak as godfather

Emma McIntyre /VF19/WireImage

On Dec. 15, 2017, Kaling welcomed her first child, daughterKatherine “Kit” Swati. In 2019, sherevealedtoGood Housekeepingthat Novak is Kit’s godfather.

Novak took on the role of godfather again when Kaling gave birth to her second child, sonSpencer Avu, on Sept. 3, 2020.

February 9, 2020: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak attend the Academy Awards

VALERIE MACON/AFP

Kaling and Novak hit yet anotherred carpettogether at the 92ndAcademy Awardsbefore Kaling took to the stage to present an award. After the event, the pair kept up their tradition and attended theVanity FairOscars party, later posting a series ofphotosfrom a photo booth.

October 28, 2020: Mindy Kaling talks about B.J. Novak’s relationship with her kids

In an October 2020interviewwith theTodayShow,Kaling shared that Novak has become pretty attached to her kids: “He said the funniest thing, he was like, ‘Can you sue for god-paternity rights?’ "

December 23, 2020: Mindy Kaling shares B.J. Novak’s role in her family’s holiday traditions

Matt Winkelmeyer/VF20/WireImage

Novak’s most important role? PlayingSanta Clausfor Kaling’s kids. In 2020, she revealed that she and Novak schemed as to how to pull off the surprise.

“We’re going to be baking cookies and then all of a sudden we’re going to hear bells from another room and I’m going to go, ‘Kit, what do you think that is?’ " Kaling said the act ends with Kit finding Novak in a Santa costume asleep on the couch with a bag of toys.

November 10, 2021: B.J. Novak supported Mindy Kaling at the premiere ofThe Sex Lives of College Girls

Emma McIntyre/Getty

In November 2021, Kaling’s HBO Max comedyThe Sex Lives of College Girlspremiered in L.A. at the Hammer Museum. Novak wason handto support Kaling, who created the show under her own production company, Kaling International, Inc.

June 1, 2022: Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak attend a Red Sox game

Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty

Kaling and Novak, both of whom are Massachusetts natives, spent a fun evening together at Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox game on June 1, 2022. “A couple of Dundie Award winners,” the team captioned aphotoof the pair, decked out in Rox Sox jerseys and posing with the team mascots, Wally and Tessie.

In her own post, Kalingjokedthat it was “a completely perfect night at Fenway to see my fave guys, the Boston Red Sox, and with my best friend, the Green Monster, Wally. B.J. Novak was also there.”

June 12, 2022: Mindy Kaling attends the premiere of B.J. Novak’s directorial debut,Vengeance

August 2022: Mindy Kaling says the rumors about B.J. Novak being her kids' father don’t “bother” her

Kalingaddressed the rumorsthat Novak is the father of her children during an interview withMarie Claire. While Kaling has never revealed the paternity of her kids, fans have long theorized that Novak could be their father. However, as theNever Have I Evercreator explained, the speculation “doesn’t bother” her.

“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 BJ,” she told the publication.

“If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it,” Kaling added.

August 28, 2022: B.J. Novak joins Mindy Kaling and her daughter on a visit to the Griffith Observatory

Kaling allowed her four-year-old daughter to stay up past her bedtime for some stargazing at the Griffith Observatory with her godfather, Novak. Kit came dressed for the occasion, donning black pajama bottoms adorned with yellow stars and crescent moons.

The Mindy Projectstar posted a few photoson Instagramfrom the trio’s late-night outing in L.A. One photo showed Kit peering through a giant telescope, while another pictured Novak holding his goddaughter as she pointed to something in the sky.

“My four year old had the best night of her life at our star party + Saturn spotting,” Kaling captioned the image carousel. “Thank you @bjnovak for sharing your passion for astronomy.”

September 6, 2022: B.J. Novak offers Mindy Kaling parenting advice

While chatting withMeghan Markleon her podcast,Archetypes, Kaling shared theparenting advice— courtesy of her friend Novak — that has stuck with her.

“I grew up always feeling ugly, overweight, othered. And so with my daughter, I’m always telling her that she’s beautiful,” she said. “To the point where my friend B.J. is like ‘You can tell her other compliments.’ "

Kaling went on to add: “It’s funny to realize ‘Oh, I’m focusing too much on this.’ Every morning I’m like ‘You’re so beautiful,’ to the point where that’s not healthy either. But I do think that’s how we can change things.”

September 12, 2022: B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling joke about their “insanely complicated” relationship at the Emmys

Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak.Chris Haston/NBC via Getty

At the 2022Emmy Awards, Novak and Kalingpresented the trophyfor writing for a limited or anthology series or movie. Before announcing a winner, however, Novak and Kaling poked fun at the genre.

“To all the nominees, we just want to say congratulations, you lazy sons of bitches,” teased Kaling. “How are you getting away with this?”

“Eight episodes?” Novak asked before Kaling added, “We came out doing network sitcoms, 22 episodes a year.”

“And that show, that would take up your whole life. No time for other projects,” Novak chimed in. Kaling looked at her co-presenter and continued, “No time for a social life. You had no choice but to form insanely complicated relationships with your costars,” joking about the buzz surrounding their relationship.

October 17, 2022: B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling attend the Academy Gala together

Mindy Kaling Instagram

Novak shared pictures of the two on his Instagram Story, sharing a snap of the two in front of the same flower wall as well as a photo of Kaling taking the selfie.

October 31, 2022: Mindy Kaling recalls the time a man broke into B.J. Novak’s car

During an appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live,Kaling reflected on “the most genuinely scary situation” she had ever experienced. When she was nearly nine months pregnant with her daughter, the comedian went out to dinner in L.A with Novak. A fan (who was acting strange) came up to the two of them and said: “Hey, love you guys inThe Office!”

The interaction was brief as they made their way from the car to the front door of the restaurant.

Luckily, Novak and Kaling confronted the man and managed to get him out of the car without any physical altercation.

December 6, 2022: Mindy Kaling reveals why she won’t date B.J. Novak again

During an appearance onThe Drew Barrymore Show, Kaling toldDrew Barrymorewhy she wants to keep her relationship with Novakin the friend zone.

“He is a wonderful friend and he is the godparent of both my kids and he loves children and they’re so attached to him,” she said. “He’s really part of our family, but we’ve known each other for a long, long time and I think anyone who’s been friends with someone for 18, 19 years and at one point dated and now doesn’t, they maybe understand this. You have exes that you wouldn’t necessarily marry now.”

February 25, 2023: B.J. Novak jokes about his and Mindy Kaling’s past romance

Novak spoke about hisromantic history with Kalingwhen he presented her with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television at the 2023 Producers Guild Awards. The actor called himself and Kaling “reckless idiots” when they were dating and working together onThe Office. He recalled arguing and “forever grinding the writers room into a halt.”

He also described their romantic relationship as a “tumultuous, romantic, toxic, boundary-less mess,” which inspired theshow’s producers to suggest the pair “have scenes together” because they were “pretty funny.”

Kaling laterposted photos on Instagramfrom the evening, including snaps of her and Novak together.

March 12, 2023: B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling pose for photos together at theVanity FairOscars party

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Before enjoying a star-studded evening, Novak and Kalingposed for photos togetheron theVanity Fairred carpet.The Mindy Projectstar wowed in a metallic gold Prabal Gurung gown, while Novak donned a dapper black tuxedo.

July 31, 2023: Mindy Kaling wishes B.J. Novak a happy birthday

March 22, 2024: Mindy Kaling responds to rumors that she had a falling out with B.J. Novak

When the podcast from Instagram gossip account Deuxmoi shared anonymous intel that the longtime friends had a falling out, Kaling took the opportunity to respond.

July 10, 2024: B.J. Novak says Mindy Kaling’s daughter Anne is “adorable”

Kaling gave birth to her third child, Anne, in February 2024. While talking to PEOPLE, Novak described the infant as “adorable” and “the best.”

February 18, 2025: B.J. Novak calls Mindy Kaling a “deep and caring friend” at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony

Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak in 2025.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Novak delivered a sweet speech at Kaling’sHollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. He described the actress as a “brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, an incredible mother of three [and] a deep and caring daughter and friend.”

Kaling later noted that Novak is an “important and integral part of my family.”

source: people.com