Indian heroine in Netflix romcom

Writer-producer Mindy Kaling's Never Have I Ever takes on the romantic misadventures of an Indian-American teenager living with her family in Los Angeles

The character of Devi, played by Tamil-Canadian newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (left) in Never Have I Ever, is loosely based on the experiences of Mindy Kaling (right) growing up as the child of Indian immigrants in the United States and being a big nerd herself. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NETFLIX, REUTERS
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Nerdy, dark-skinned Indian girls do not usually get to be the heroine in Hollywood romantic comedies.

Taking on that "colourism" and also rewriting cliches about nerds are why comedy star Mindy Kaling created Never Have I Ever - a Netflix show about the romantic misadventures of an Indian-American teenager, Devi, who lives with her family in Los Angeles.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 28, 2020, with the headline Indian heroine in Netflix romcom. Subscribe