When two people share an unbreakable bond, it can be hard for the world to figure out exactly what that connection is. Are they more than friends? Is there something deeper? Or are they just a couple of kindred spirits with an undeniable chemistry? Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak have been sparking curiosity ever since they became the dynamic duo behind The Office.
True, they’ve played with the media’s expectations like a cat playing with a string, all while remaining steadfastly elusive about the true nature of their bond. So, is there romance here? Or is it simply a friendship that runs so deep, that it defies easy labels?
The internet can’t help but buzz, and with every appearance they make together, the gossip only grows louder. What’s even more intriguing is the mystery surrounding Kaling’s three children—could Novak be the father?
We can all admit that we’re nosy when it comes to celebrity relationships. And with Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak, it’s like the universe dangles a deliciously juicy mystery that’s impossible to ignore. Here’s the scoop, unfiltered.
The complicated (love?) story of Mindy Kaling & B.J. Novak
Sometimes, the lines between the art of storytelling and real life blur so seamlessly that they leave us all wondering where the performance ends and reality begins. Such is the curious case of Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak; they were the quintessential ‘will-they-won’t-they’ couple probably before the term was even coined.
The two met while working on The Office. As fate would have it, their relationship mirrored their characters on-screen—Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard. And if you think their on-screen relationship was complicated, you have no idea about the off-screen one.
It wasn’t all about office politics, though. Their real-life connection was anything but simple. They started dating soon after their paths crossed in 2004, but this wasn’t your typical ‘we’re dating, we’re not dating’ kind of deal. As Novak later explained, their relationship was a confusing cocktail of closeness and chaos.
In fact, their relationship was so complicated that even they couldn’t figure out what they were—and apparently, neither could anyone else. “No one, including us, ever really knew, ‘Is this dating? Is this not dating?’ We were never really dating, we were never really not dating,” Novak informed Vulture in 2012. Oh, the drama! The Inglorious Basterds actor added:
We didn’t know. No one knew. All you’d know for sure was that you’d always find one of us next to the other, even if we weren’t getting along.
Despite the back and forth, the chemistry between them remained undeniable. It’s no surprise that their romantic dynamic in The Office mirrored their real-life interactions. The two were constantly fighting—about everything, really. One minute, they were arguing over lunch choices and the next, they were getting back together as if nothing happened. Novak said:
Honestly, we would sometimes not be speaking for an hour and I couldn’t remember why. I don’t think she could either. The tone in choosing which place to order lunch from. The tone that one of us would have about Thai food in general. Who knows?
And no, it wasn’t always about the Thai food—though we wouldn’t blame them if it was.
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak: The breakup that wasn’t really a breakup
In 2007, after three years of this emotionally charged camaraderie, Mindy Kaling and Novak decided to take a break from each other—but, as B.J. Novak puts it (via Vulture):
In real life, I think we just essentially grew up and it became more of a transition.
In Kaling’s own words, it was Novak who called it quits. Speaking about the breakup years later on Howard Stern’s show, Kaling admitted,
He broke up with me. It was years and years ago that that breakup happened. I was so sad, not angry, sad.
But let’s be clear: while the breakup didn’t shake the foundation of their friendship, it didn’t exactly stop the rumors from swirling. Here’s where it gets juicy—because while their romantic relationship may have ended, their bond certainly didn’t. In fact, it only deepened over time.
In 2019, Kaling revealed something that turned the gossip mill into overdrive: Novak was the godfather of her children. Yes, you heard that right. While we’re still scratching our heads over whether they were ever really together in the first place, now we’re left wondering if Novak is the biological father of her children. But guess what? Kaling’s not telling.
“Until I speak to my daughter about that, I’m not going to talk to anyone else about it,” she told the New York Times.
Is B.J. Novak the father to Mindy Kaling’s children?
Let’s stop right here for a moment. It’s not every day that your best friend (and possibly former lover) becomes your kids’ godfather. B.J. Novak plays this role for both of Kaling’s older children, Katherine Swati and Spencer Avu. Mindy Kaling confirmed it in multiple interviews, including her 2019 chat with CBS:
He’s the godfather to my daughter. I see him every week. It isn’t the thing that people sometimes think it is. He’s really part of my family now, which is great. Even though that’s less of a sexy characterization of our relationship, I think it’s a deeper and a closer one. We do spend a lot of time together and it’s a great blessing in my life.
As if this weren’t already enough to fuel the fire, she also told Marie Claire in 2022:
If rumors about us being a couple or a family bring people joy, I’m happy to let them believe what they want.
But don’t get too carried away with that thought. While the idea of Novak being the father may be a tantalizing piece of gossip, both The Office co-stars have gone to great lengths to debunk it. Despite their undeniable closeness and the fact that he’s practically part of her family, Kaling insisted there’s no romantic involvement beyond their deep friendship.
Still, who can blame the public for connecting the dots? After all, they’ve been inseparable for years, sharing holidays, award shows, and those oh-so-adorable inside jokes. Right?
So, are B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling dating or not?
As B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling have made abundantly clear, they aren’t dating — at least not in the traditional sense. Their bond has always been complicated but comforting, like an old pair of shoes that you just can’t seem to part with. Novak himself has said it best (via Style Caster):
We are pretty inseparable best friends with a lot of chemistry ourselves, and we’re not dating.
But we all know how this goes. As soon as these two are spotted together, the rumors start. Kaling has admitted that whenever they date other people, the new partner often has doubts about their bond. The chemistry is real, but the romance? Not so much.
Regardless, would you mind taking a quick look at the timeline of their friendship? From the very first day they met in 2004, Kaling and Novak were creating a dynamic that would tempt fans for years to come. They dated, they fought, they broke up, and yet, they never truly let go of each other.
Their relationship defied labels and refused to be neatly packaged into a box, which is likely what makes it so compelling to everyone watching. They even appeared together at the 2013 Met Gala — not as a couple, but as friends. The chemistry was still undeniable, though, and by 2015, Kaling was reflecting on their strange but undeniably special connection (via The Cut):
I will freely admit: My relationship with BJ Novak is weird as hell. He is not my boyfriend, but he is not my best friend. I guess you could describe our relationship as a ‘romantically charged camaraderie with loud arguments.’
By 2019, after she had become a mother, Kaling revealed that Novak was the godfather of her children, but still left the world guessing about his role in their family dynamics. And while rumors about them dating — or being more than just friends — continue to pop up every now and then, they both maintain that their bond is pure, platonic, and deeply rooted in friendship.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the way they like it.
So, are they a couple? No. Are they a family? In a way, yes. But are they the parents of the children together? That’s a mystery we’ll likely never have the answer to. And maybe that’s exactly how it should stay. After all, there’s no fun in solving the puzzle if the pieces don’t fit neatly.
The Office is available for streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
