The Dartmouth College student studied Latin before switching to theater. She earned an Eleanor Frost Playwriting Award in 1999. As a college student, Kaling illustrated a daily comic for the school paper called "Badly Drawn Girl," which "riffed on day-to-day campus life and took a witty stab at everything from fraternity life to alumni."

The Emmy-nominated actress and creator and star of "The Mindy Project" has also written two books: "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" and "Why Not Me?"