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Mindy Kaling Calls B.J. Novak a “Great Love,” Would Have Married Him If He’d Asked

Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak
Mindy Kaling admitted that costar and longtime pal B.J. Novak was her "great love" on The Howard Stern Show.

Fans of Mindy Kaling were likely squealing while listening to the actress and writer’s telling interview on The Howard Stern Show on Monday, Sept. 15. The Office alum, 35, who is longtime friends with costar and fellow writer B.J. Novak, opened up in a candid interview about the history of their relationship. 

Kaling waxed nostalgic about their romance after host Stern asked if she’d ever had a “great love” who got away.  

“He’s a good friend of mine, yeah. He’s my best friend. He broke up with me,” the FOX star said, remaining vague at first. “It was years and years ago that that breakup happened. I was so sad, not angry, sad. That was the hottest I ever looked ‘cause I stopped eating. When I get depressed, I stop eating. I was so miserable and so beautiful.”

Related: PHOTOS: The Office's most memorable romances

She also revealed that this great love was “pretty damn good” in the sack before Stern declared that this mystery love had to be Novak, 35. 

“Yes, you’re correct. Not that you’re Sherlock Holmes, Howard,” Kaling joked. “He’s legitimately one of my best friends. I love him, and I think he’s a great person, but I’m not holding a candle for B.J.”

mindy kaling and bj novak on the office
B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling were writers for The Office and also played comical couple Ryan Howard and Kelly Kapoor.

The opinionated host continued to press the best-selling author for details, asking if she would have married her ex if he’d asked.

“At the time? Yeah. I was 24,” she replied, adding, “For the record, if anyone asked me to marry them, I would have said yes.”

Stern pushed a little further, saying, “If he called you tomorrow and said, ‘I made a terrible mistake. We must get back together and get married,’ you would do it.”

Kaling paused before half-heartedly replying, “I don’t know.”

“That’s not a no!” Stern exclaimed. 

Related: PHOTOS: Hollywood's friendliest exes

So why did this seemingly perfect match split up to begin with?

“People are so different and you can overlap in certain ways that are important, but not the ones that are the most important,” Kaling explained.  

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