Meet Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, star of Mindy Kaling’s Netflix series Never Have I Ever
She’s the first Tamil-Canadian to star in a major Hollywood series, didn’t even have a headshot and is a creative spirit, but what else is there to know?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, the lead character in Mindy Kaling’s coming-of-age Netflix comedy drama, Never Have I Ever, plays a “modern-day first-generation Indian-American girl” named Devi. She’s an overachieving high school sophomore at Sherman Oaks High in San Fernando Valley. As she copes with the death of her father, Devi is determined to have a typical and sexy high school experience.
Never Have I Ever was inspired by Kaling’s childhood experience in suburban Massachusetts. Get to know 18-year-old Maitreyi, how she landed the role and impressed Kaling and why she’s primed for success:
She bested 15,000 hopefuls
When Kaling announced on Instagram that she was looking for someone to portray a character loosely based on her and co-writer Lang Fisher, 15,000 auditions poured in.
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Maitreyi’s audition tape stood out despite the fact she didn’t have a proper headshot and had very little acting experience. She received a callback from Kaling’s team, and after two auditions in Los Angeles, Maitreyi snagged the role.
Remember that open casting call for me and @loulielang’s upcoming @netflix series!? WELL everyone…meet Maitreyi Ramakrishnan! She was cast out of 15,000 people, you guys Thank you to every single one of you that auditioned ️ https://t.co/9mbbhnKJNN
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) July 10, 2019
Maitreyi even asked Kaling why she picked her. “Mindy said: ‘You’re cool, we love your sassiness, we want you to make it you.’”
She has strong ties with her culture and heritage
View this post on InstagramIs it highlight or sweat? We'll never know. Happy Thai Pongal! (Late as always, I know)️
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In an interview with Now Magazine, a Canadian publication, Maitreyi made sure that her ethnicity and nationality – Tamil-Canadian – was correct in the Netflix announcement. “My identity isn’t Sri Lankan,” she says. “That’s not my country. My country is Canada. But my culture is definitely Tamil.”
She wants to properly represent South Asians
View this post on InstagramForever grateful to my two fairy god mothers. 2020 can't come any sooner♀️ #nhie #neverhaveIever
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Maitreyi is making history as the first Tamil-Canadian to star in a Hollywood series. She told Refinery29: “I’m going to keep trying to get more roles that truly represent the South Asian community, women in general and kids my age.”
She’s civic-minded
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Maitreyi’s family escaped war in Sri Lanka. Ever since, alongside the Tamil community in Canada, she has taken part in protests to raise awareness about the dire situation in her home country. Just recently, she joined a student walkout to protest budget cuts to education spending.
She’s a creative person
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Maitreyi is a creative spirit (she likes to sing and has played piano for years). However, she wasn’t interested in acting until her drama teacher coaxed her to join the theatre department and soon realised her potential. She plans to attend York University, but in the meantime, starring in Never Have I Ever will do.