Thanks in no small part to her early work on the hit comedy seriesThe Office,Mindy Kaling has become one of the most prolific comedy writers in Hollywood. Regardless of her considerable body of work, Kaling was disappointed that she missed out on a role in the 2011 comedy,Bridesmaids. But while this was seen as a missed opportunity to the actress, her lack of participation in the film helped facilitate a major boost to her already successful career.
The actress' more recent work has seen her inNever Have I Ever,The Morning ShowandLate Night.Kaling nearly joinedSaturday Night Livetoo, before her contract with Greg Daniels forThe Officeblocked her involvement in writing for the series. Kaling has become notable for writing her own characters, as can be seen with the sitcom’s Kelly Kapoor andDr. Mindy Lahiri inThe Mindy Project.However,the actress’s career took off only one year afterBridesmaids, proving how consequential her absence from the really was - in a good way.
Mindy Kaling’s Career Take Off Happened One Year After Bridesmaids With The Mindy Project
It’s Likely That The Bridesmaids And The Mindy Project’s Timelines Would’ve Collided
Kaling auditioned for Lillian inBridesmaidsover a decade ago, before the role went to Maya Rudolph. When speaking of her regret about the project, Kaling said, “[Bridesmaids] is a movie I loved […] I practiced it so much, I was so into it, and I love that whole cast. That was one that was a heartbreaker,” (viaBustle). However,the short time between the two projects suggests the projects may not have alignedwith her schedule, as there were only 12 months separating the works.The Mindy Projectwas the catalyst for future projects, showcasing her versatility in the industry.
Mindy Kaling Was Pranked Into Wearing Jeans At 40-Year-Old Virgin Premiere
Mindy Kaling was pranked by a former The Office colleague into wearing jeans and a tank top to the premiere of Judd Apatow’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
Beyond doubt,Kaling’s role inThe Officehelped make a name for herself in Hollywood and garnered the writing experience necessary to create a range of solo projects. That being said,The Mindy Projecttruly established her position in the industryand her flair for comedy. The impressive series aired for six seasons, and definitely proved that her writing onThe Officewas not just a lucky break. Her success withThe Mindy Projectwas what ultimately led to other writing opportunities on TV, such asFour Weddings and a Funeraland theHBO seriesThe Sex Lives of College Girls.
Mindy Kaling Is At Her Best When She Writes Comedy Roles For Herself
Kaling Lines Up Her Strengths With Her Character Roles
The comedy writer is undeniably at her strongest when Kaling is creating her own roles. In remaining mindful of her ability,Kaling aligns her own skill set with the self-scripted characters, which greatly strengthens her performances. This can be observed inThe Mindy Project, whereKaling’s relationship with B. J. Novaktranslates nicely to inspire their characters' dynamic. That is not to say Kaling only succeeds with this particular formula. Her role inVelmaorThe Morning Showdemonstrates her ability to take advantage of a range of different genres, and maximize her performance on others' writing.
When taking into account her time onSaturday Night Live, Rudolph is far more familiar with this type of comedy, which makes it difficult to imagine some of the more chaotic scenes inBridesmaidsworking as well if Kaling were to have played Lillian.
A number ofactors fromThe Officeare inBridesmaids, so it would have been fun to see Kaling added to the cast. Nevertheless, Lillian’s role inBridesmaidswas far better suited to Rudolph.The character relies upon lots of physical comedy, which is not necessarily Kaling’s forte— drawing upon a much more subtle wit in her characters. When taking into account her time onSaturday Night Live, Rudolph is far more familiar with this type of comedy, which makes it difficult to imagine some of the more chaotic scenes inBridesmaidsworking as well if Kaling played Lillian.
Bridesmaids
Cast
Bridesmaids is a comedy film featuring Kristen Wiig as Annie, who becomes the maid of honor for her best friend Lillian amidst personal turmoil. As she navigates the costly and eccentric demands of wedding preparations, Annie strives to prove her devotion despite numerous comedic challenges. Released in 2011, the film explores friendship and rivalry among bridesmaids.
