Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak fell in love on The Office. They were a 'romantic, toxic mess'.

From 2004 to 2007, Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak were in a relationship.

Yep, the pair who met while writing and starring in The Office, played a couple who worked together and had a ridiculously tumultuous push-and-pull relationship.

And according to Novak, their real-life relationship wasn't much different.

At the 2023 Producers Guild Awards over the weekend, Novak took to the stage to present Kaling with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. 

In his speech, he dished on their friendship, and former relationship.

Watch some of B.J. Novak's speech here. Post continues below.

When Novak was 25 and Kaling was 24, the pair began working as writers on The Office, and later featuring in the hit sitcom as well. 

"The first thing I noticed about Mindy in that writer's room was that she cared so much about everything. Her opinions were passionate and unstoppable," he said.

Novak then elaborated on their relationship, saying they soon were in love - but endlessly bickering.

"We were in love with each other. We were reckless idiots," he said.

"And the two of us would argue about all of these things forever, grinding the writer's room to a halt until we got too upset and we'd go to our respective offices and slam the door, where we would continue arguing over instant messenger. It was 2005."

Novak said that when the producers of The Office realised the pair's relationship had "jumped every conceivable boundary and become a tumultuous, romantic, toxic, boundaryless mess," they asked the couple to start doing on-screen scenes together.

And the chemistry and banter was clear between their characters Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard. It really was TV mimicking real life. 

"We made it work, we made it through," he said.

After The Office, Kaling went on to star, write and produce The Mindy Project, with Novak noting that a lot of her character's on-screen love interests often looked like him - something he liked to poke fun at.

Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak in The Office. Image: Stan.

In his speech, Novak also commended Kaling as a parent, saying "she cares so much that she either knows what to do or finds out fast".

In 2017, Mindy had her first child, a daughter named Katherine Swati. 

Then in late 2020, Mindy announced she had given birth to a boy, Spencer Avu. She had hidden the pregnancy thanks to lockdown orders during the pandemic.

Mindy has chosen not to publicly confirm the identity of the children's father(s), saying she has always been a single mum. 

Novak is a godparent to both kids, and he finished his speech by saying: "She cares so much about everything, and I care so much about her."

As Kaling went to accept the award, she spoke highly of her former partner and friend.

She said that when she first met him, she thought to herself: "Wow, that guy is so brilliant, so funny and so unfriendly, I just need him to like me."

"And it turned out great. He's remained my closest friend. He's seen all the ups and downs, and it just means the world to me. I am so lucky that my favourite writer is also my best friend, I love you."

For years it's been rumoured that Kaling and Novak have continued to be in a relationship behind the scenes.

"It doesn't bother me," she told Marie Claire, reflecting on the rumours.

He's the godparent to both my kids - and they have such a great relationship - and so far [the rumours haven't] affected my happiness at all, it hasn't affected my kids or B.J.

"If that's what is going to be titillating to people, I'll take it."

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A post shared by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling)

Kaling also recently shut down the possibility of them still being in a relationship during her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

"He is a wonderful friend and he is the godparent of both my kids, and he loves children and they're so attached to him," she said.

"He's really part of our family, but we've known each other for a long, long time and I think anyone who's been friends with someone for 18, 19 years and at one point dated and now doesn't, they maybe understand this.

"You have exes that you wouldn't necessarily marry now."

Feature Image: Getty.

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