Mindy Kaling is having a good year. In fact, she’s been having a good few years. From her memorable role in the blockbuster movie Ocean’s 8 and creating the Netflix superhit series, Never Have I Ever to writing The Mindy Project and the cult favourite The Office, she is a creative genius to say the least. While she’s best known for her on-screen work, offline the American-Indian star has become every brown girl’s personal superhero for always advocating for herself and other women in a pretty male-dominated industry. Her trailblazing contributions to cinema has rightfully earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 18, 2025. Mindy makes history as the first South Asian woman to be bestowed with this accolade.
Her milestone moment was attended by close friends and industry peers, including BJ Novak, Brenda Song, and Macaulay Culkin. Mindy kept it classic in a striking black dress and diamonds. But that is not to say the multihyphenate doesn’t like to make a splash with colour with her Indian wear. Below, we are taking a look at some of her most memorable sari and lehenga looks.
Mindy wore another conversation-starting look for the Festival Of Lights last year—an embellished beaten gold on gun metal grey set by Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika. It consisted of a fishtail skirt and bralette with 3D metallic work on the straps.
Mindy made a head-turning appearance on the red carpet of the 2024 Met Gala. The actress donned an exquisite gown crafted by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta. Featuring the couturier’s signature sculptural techniques and a cape inspired by a blooming flower, it was aptly named “the melting flower of time”.
Following her MET Gala look, she raised the bar for fashion once again in another Gaurav Gupta gown, this time for Emmy’s 2024 in September. The black gown featured a sculptural off-shoulder detail with a plunging neckline, complete with beadwork flowing from each arm and pleats for extra drama.
An Indian couturier who has been Mindy’s go-to? Anita Dongre. One of her most memorable looks be the designer is the purple Benarasi lehenga set. Comprising a sleeveless blouse and voluminous skirt, it showcased floral motifs and was accented with Anita’s signature gota patti work.
Thumb back to 2021, and you’ll recall her Diwali looks to be one of her best. Mindy hosted a star-studded Diwali party that welcomed names like Priyanka Chopra, Meena Harris and Deepica Mutyala. She dressed the part in a custom-made and intricately embellished deep purple lehenga by Falguni Shane Peacock.
For Diwali in 2024, Mindy wore a Cherie D lehenga that beautifully toed the line between tradition and modernity. In a gorgeous maroon shade, her look was crafted using rich silk brocade.
