B.J. Novak Addresses Public Fascination with His Longstanding Friendship with Mindy Kaling

B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling first met as co-stars on *The Office* in 2004, beginning a personal relationship that has lasted over two decades. In a 2014 PEOPLE interview, Novak described Kaling as a complicated person and said their friendship, though complex, was something he would not trade for anything. By 2017, he became godfather to Kaling’s eight-year-old daughter, Katherine “Kit” Swati. In February 2025, Novak described Kaling as a deep and caring friend at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Later that year, Novak appeared in *The Devil Wears Prada 2* as Jay Ravitz, while Kaling, also a Boston native, played a fashion-forward role. Novak noted his Boston upbringing contrasts with Kaling’s fashion-forward path, a point he highlighted while promoting *The Devil Wears Prada 2*.

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When The Hollywood Reporter asked Novak about the “public fascination” surrounding his friendship with Kaling, he acknowledged the attention and referenced Mel Robbins’s *Let Them Theory* as a guide for his approach. He explained that he chooses to answer personal questions rather than restrict them, emphasizing that he will not deem any inquiry off-limits. Novak’s remarks indicate a strategy of openness, framing the friendship as a topic fans and media may explore without defensive barriers.

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• “I totally know it.” — B.J. Novak, The Hollywood Reporter interview

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• “If people ask me about my life, I answer, and that’s the only thing they want to write a story about? Let them.” — B.J. Novak, The Hollywood Reporter interview

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• “I’m not going to tell someone that question is off limits. Let them.” — B.J. Novak, The Hollywood Reporter interview

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• “A really complicated person and a really complicated friendship, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” — B.J. Novak, 2014 PEOPLE interview

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The sustained media focus reflects the combined public profiles of Novak and Kaling, both of whom have achieved success as actors, writers, and producers. Their shared history on a landmark television series, coupled with ongoing collaborations such as *The Devil Wears Prada 2*, provides a recurring point of interest for entertainment outlets and fan communities. Novak’s willingness to discuss the friendship publicly reinforces the narrative that the pair’s personal bond is a legitimate topic for coverage.

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The sources reviewed do not present any dissenting commentary or criticism regarding Novak’s handling of the public’s interest in his friendship with Kaling.

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No conflicting reports about the timeline, the nature of the friendship, or Novak’s statements were identified in the available material.

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