The new star: Revisiting Mindy Kaling's honor at Hollywood Walk of Fame, third South Asian after six decades

Highlights: Mindy Kaling honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles by her co-star and dear friend BJ Novak. Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam) is a writer, producer (backing Oscar entry Anuja and shows like Never Have I ever), actress, and more who was born to Indian parents on June 24, 1979, in Cambridge. Known for the role of ‘Kelly Kapoor’ in The Office, Kaling has even worked as a writer for the show, earning an Emmy nomination in 2010. Third South Asian to be awarded with the honor, only after Merle Oberon and Sabu Dastagir (both Indian-origin).

Indian American actor, producer, screenwriter, comedian, and director Mindy Kaling was officially honored with a star award at the legendary Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on February 18, 2025 in the television category. This is a celebratory achievement for South Asia, especially Indians and the desi community back in America and the rest of the world. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce officially manages the Walk of Fame for Los Angeles. It honored Mindy Kaling with its 2800th star on the sidewalks of Los Angeles. This makes her the third South Asian person to be honored with the star, only after actors Merle Oberon and Sabu Dastagir (both of Indian-origin) 65 years ago. Kaling’s star is embedded at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The career glory of Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling has achieved big in Hollywood and added representation of Indians as well as South Asians at large. A complete powerhouse of talent, Kaling is not only restricted to acting alone, she is a writer and director and now the CEO of her own production company, Kaling International. Some of her achievements include:

Awarded the National Medal of Arts by the US Government in 2023 [1]. It is the highest civilian award given to artists in America.

The Norman Lear Achievement Award by the Producers Guild of America in February 2023 [2].

An Emmy nomination in 2010 for her writing of the show ‘The Office’ along with Greg Daniels. Notably, Kaling wrote 23 episodes of the show (the most by any writer). She also became the first woman of color to be nominated in the writing category [3]. To date, Kaling has six nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards [4].

The Tony Award for Best Musical for The Strange Loop as a producer [5]. The Strange Loop is also the winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize (Drama) [6].  

Two memoirs authored by Mindy Kaling- “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” and “Why Not Me” have made it to the New York Times best-selling list [7] [8]. 

Kaling began her career at 24 as an actor starring in The Office, where she moved on to fearless storytelling, creating her narrative. With her talent and innovation, the star has contributed to television with some wonderful work that has entertained audiences across a generation.

Until recently, she made and backed hit shows like The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever, Running Point, and The sex lives of College Girls, including the Oscar-nominated Anuja in 2025. For The Mindy Project, shot with a single camera, Kaling was the star, creator, and executive producer of its six seasons. Out of the 117 episodes, she wrote 24 of them [9].

Mindy Kaling’s acceptance speech

Kaling was honored by her co-star and writer at The Office, BJ Novak, with a speech saying, “We always knew you would be famous, but we had no idea how beautifully you’d handle the job.”

 

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A post shared by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling)

In her address, Kaling said, “I’m a woman of color who wasn’t supposed to have this career in Hollywood. I was told there is no place for you here. But I worked hard, and now I am here. He (my dad) and my mom encouraged me to be an artist by giving me the gift of autonomy. These are Indian immigrants in the 1980s and 90s. I can’t tell you how rare that is.”

Adding further, she said, “I’m Hindu, and we practice cremation, which is a beautiful tradition…But also, I’m obsessed with legacy. So sometimes I get disappointed that I won’t have a grave, but this? This is so much better than a grave.”

Global star Priyanka Chopra also celebrated Mindy Kaling’s achievement via Instagram stories. She wrote the caption, “First South Asian woman to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Queen. Congratulations, Mindy Kaling so well deserved. (red heart emoji).”

South Asians honored with the ‘Walk of Fame’ before Kaling

When Mindy Kaling received the honor of being inducted into Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in February 2025, it was said that she was the first South Asian woman in history to do so. However, long before her, the feat was achieved by two former stars- Merle Oberon and Sabu Dastagir [10]. Something that we often forget. Notably, both of them were of Indian-origin. Here’s a take:

Merle Oberon Merle Oberon faced many challenges and prejudices in Hollywood, evenThe Washington Post called her “Half-Indian”, as per the New York Times. (Image source: Instagram) 

65 years ago, Merle Oberon was awarded a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Let’s say that she was the first Asian star of Hollywood. Merle was also the first Asian woman to be nominated for an Oscar for her movie “The Dark Angel” [11].  

Merle was an Anglo-Indian raised with humble beginnings in Calcutta, India, by her grandmother. She gradually found hope in movies. She first rose to fame in London, then slowly carved her way in Hollywood, only by hiding her South Asian identity to stay alive in Los Angeles [12]. Merle remained attractive and very much unconventional in those times, even though she lost out on roles following color tests in the new era. 

Sabu Dastagir

Sabu in a still from the film “Hello Elephant” in 1952 (archivio elephante) 

Accredited as ‘Sabu’, the Indian actor from Mysore had worked primarily in the 1930s-1940s in Britain and the United States. He is mainly known for his role as ‘Abu’ in the 1940 film “The Thief of Baghdad.” Along with a prolific acting career, Sabu also served in the US military after gaining US citizenship and was known for his valor and bravery [13]. 

In the year 1960, Sabu was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Despite achieving success overseas, Sabu never got to star in any movie back home in India. The actor with a “wonderful grace” died in 1964 before the release of his last movie release “A Tiger Walks” at the age of 39 [14].  

A call for the recognition of South Asian talent

There has been a slow yet steady increase in South Asian actors and artists in the West. Many movies out there include South Asian actors, adding a diverse representation on screen. And now, Mindy Kaling being honored with the Walk of Fame represents South Asian people and, at the same time, ignites hope for the better, playing characters that are more than ‘mere representation' [15]. 

Stars like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kal Penn, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Lilly Singh, Suraj Sharma, Dev Patel, and many more in the next generation from South Asia are changing the face of Hollywood [16]. It’s just that  Hollywood does not take another 60 years to recognize South Asian talent.