What a difference four months can make. Mindy Kaling candidly opened up about her bond with ex-boyfriend B.J. Novak in September, noting that she would’ve married him — if he had ever asked. These days, though, Kaling is singing a different tune to Good Houskeeping, telling the mag’s February issue that she’s fine with the fact that she may never be a Missus.
A self-proclaimed creature of habit when it comes to dating, the Mindy Project‘s creator’s outlook on romance took a more mature turn once she hit 30, much to her chagrin.
“If I could relive the first three months of courtship over and over for the rest of my life, I would. Especially in winter, who doesn’t like a nice heavy seven-course meal with lots of alcohol, then making out when you’re a little tipsy and taking a cab home to fall asleep in the clothes you wore on the date? Wait. Actually that was, like, my whole 20s. And it was very fun,” Kaling, 35, said.
In the almost 10 years since her split from Novak, 35, the actress has maintained a strict policy not to remain friends with her exes, but chooses to make an exception for her former Office-mate. “B.J. has the stamp for life as a friend. He feels like family,” Kaling told Good Housekeeping, adding that her late mother had an especially soft spot for the actor.
Remaining tight-lipped on her current status with Novak, Kaling is dating around, and not in a rush to settle down. “When I was younger, I wanted so badly to be married and have kids in a rush,” said Kaling. “I don’t need marriage. I don’t need anyone to take care of all my needs and desires. I can take care of them myself now.”
Of paramount importance to Kaling now is to focus on career and family. “There’s still so much I want to do,” says the comic star, noting that directing a rom-com ranks high on her to-do list. “I feel lucky. I keep expanding my dreams.”
