Photo Credits to Vinsia Maharajah
Mindy Kaling has had a successful career in film over the past couple years, recently appearing in ensemble franchise hit Ocean’s 8, big-budget Disney adaptation A Wrinkle in Time, and critical darling Late Night (which she also wrote). Next year, she’s adding to her small screen credits with Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, which is billed as “a coming-of-age comedy series about the life of a modern first-generation Indian American teenage girl, inspired by Mindy Kaling’s own childhood.”
However, as the small screen grows bigger and bigger, so does its stars, and we’re sure that the actress headlining Never Have I Ever, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, will be no different. Winning the role over fifteen thousand other girls, the young, bright, and funny Tamil-Canadian teen seems destined for stardom. Ramakrishnan talked with TV Wasteland about her upbringing, diversity and change in Hollywood, and the future of her career.
Take a single glance at any of Ramakrishnan’s social media accounts, and one hashtag will immediately stand out: #browngirlcomeup. According to the actress, #browngirlcomeup is “all about South Asian women, in specific, taking up space in Hollywood, but also all over the world.” Visibility is crucial because it’s long overdue, and even though women (especially young women) like Ramakrishnan aren’t always given the kind of visibility they deserve, change is occurring, and “now it’s all about being seen and taking up space.”
Ramakrishnan is a “big supporter of realistic representation,” claiming that in this age’s wide variety of depiction, she hopes that everyone who watches Never Have I Ever “can take away realistic representation of youth.” She went on to explain that while she is a role model for South Asian girls, she also hopes to “be a role model for youth from all walks of life,” providing more accurate depictions “of what we go through as young adults.”
In previous interviews, the young actress had discussed her experience on the stage, and in particular, one experience where she wrote, produced, and directed a play for her high school. She said that while she wants to focus on acting, at least for the moment, she could see herself “directing a thriller film, addressing some real-world issues, but in a creative way that really captures a wide audience.” It’s no surprise to hear that Get Out and Us were cited as two films that most inspire her.
Another thing that is obvious when looking at Ramakrishnan’s social media profiles is her love for activism and social change. Over just the past few years, it seems like a floodgate has opened in Hollywood, ushering in more diverse representation both on screen and off. Ramakrishnan supports this because “people love watching movies. People love watching TV. I hope that… being the lead of this show will show other producers and other directors that representation is needed. It’s long overdue, and this is the time.”
The young star recognized how far she’s come, but she hasn’t felt at all alone along the way. In regard to other young actresses, she said “it’s all about trying your hardest and being sure that you keep trying your hardest… If you really love what you do, and you really want to go down that career path, don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t.” However, she also gives credit to her parents for always supporting her creative endeavors.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is undoubtedly one of the stars of the future, and we cannot wait for the premiere of Never Have I Ever (and to see where her career goes from here).
Never Have I Ever premieres on Netflix in 2020.
Lightning Round
If you could work with any actor or creative talent from Hollywood, who would it be?
Ryan Reynolds
Who’s your favorite character from The Office?
Michael Scott
What have you been watching lately?
What have you been listening to lately?
Pony by Rex Orange County
What’s your Hogwarts house?
Gryffindor
What is your favorite book?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
If you wrote an autobiography, what would the title be?
A Philosophical Guide Written by an Overly Imaginative Realist
What do you do to unwind?
Sketching, doodling, and playing piano
It was just Halloween; what’s your favorite costume you’ve ever worn?
Tinker Bell
If you could film a scene anywhere in the world, where would you film?
Japan
What was the movie or television performance that most inspired you to act?
The Breakfast Club / Us / Get Out
If you could guest star on any current television show, what would you choose?
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
If you had a talk show, who would your first guests be?
Ryan Reynolds
TV Wasteland 
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