Never Have I Ever does not claim to be representative of the entire Indian-American experience, nor does the fact that it is one of the few mainstream representations mean it has to contain perfect characters. Some stereotypes exist for a reason and not every show with an Indian cast has to represent every single aspect of Indian culture – which is hugely diverse depending on state, class, and diaspora. Devi is asked for a picture because she looks like Princess Jasmine (an Arab character) and we see the gossipy judgemental community at the temple. In 'Never Have I Ever,' Mindy Kaling Brings A New Nerd To TV 'It ended up being very cathartic,' Kaling says of creating the Netflix show, Never Have I Ever.The series centers on an outgoing.

We also see subtle insights into American Indian life – Kaling wanted to tell a story similar to her own life growing up – and the fact that it is actually written by her shines through. Ostensibly, Never Have I Ever embraces some stereotypes: Devi's cousin Kamala is meant to have an arranged marriage, her mother is a doctor with strict house rules and Devi herself is pressured to attend Princeton and takes part in all the extracurricular activities to boost her resume.īut alongside the stereotypes are examples of nuanced humour poking fun at their futility: we see three independent women – Devi, her mum Nalini and cousin Kamala – with their own minds and beliefs that show their characters and identities cannot be reduced to mere labels. Kaling said she based the character of Devi on her own experiences growing up and said she never intended for her to be a role model. She is selfish at times, rude to her mother and makes poor life choices based on what she thinks she should be like – most notably ditching her friends Eleanor (Ramona Young) and Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) when they need her most to impress a boy.īut aren't most 15-year-old teenagers guilty of all of the above? She is by no means a perfect character either, and admittedly is quite annoying. 'Some loser tells me I'm too Indian, some other people think I'm not Indian enough,' she says, encapsulating the classic perils of growing up in a culture where you are always made to feel like an outsider – a relatable situation for many immigrant children.ĭevi subverts the typical nerdy-Indian-girl stereotype: she is outspoken and confident, she openly talks about wanting to have sex and she doesn't do everything her mother tells her to do. Though they don't seem very similar on the surface, there is shared humor and tone in both series and other shows like. For anyone who has watched The Mindy Project, it is probably no surprise that the show's star and creator, Mindy Kaling, serves as a producer on Never Have I Ever. Related: What Never Have I Ever needs to address in season twoīut in addition to the high-school dramz, we are shown Devi grappling with two cultures: her Indian home life and her desire to be a normal teenager. (L To R) Ramona Young as Eleanor Wong, Lee Rodriguez as Fabiola Torres, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever. 10 The Mindy Project (2012-2017) Available on Netflix and Hulu.

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