February 15th, 2012

Cambridge native Mindy Kaling, who is most well-known for playing Kelly Kapoor on “The Office” (along with fellow Massachusetts natives John Krasinski, James Spader, and formerly, Steve Carell), is already having a busy start to 2012. The talented actress and writer, who was born Vera Chokalingam, has been popping up on numerous talk shows lately, directing a new web series, and appearing in commercials for Healthy Choice foods.

Kaling’s work on “The Office” has proven valuable to the successful sitcom, with her contract renewed in September 2011, and a promotion to Executive Producer status. Her directorial work on the show’s web series, “The Third Floor,” also allowed her to make her television directorial debut in season 6.

Now in post-production, she will be appearing in a movie entitled The Five-Year Engagement, which costars Jason Segel, Chris Parnell (“SNL”) and Emily Blunt, who also happens to be the wife of Kaling’s “The Office” costar, Krasinski. The comedy, which follows the trials and tribulations of an engaged couple’s relationship roller coaster, is being produced by the same team that did last year’s wildly successful Bridesmaids, and will be released in late April.

Currently in pre-production, Kaling is also currently working on an untitled TV movie project with Fox. According to IMDB, the movie is about “A young Ob/Gyn doctor balancing her personal and professional life, surrounded by quirky co-workers in a small office.” Kaling will be starring in the show, as well as writing and producing it. No word yet on when the project will be completed.