Never had she ever been on screen but Canadian teen shines in new Mindy Kaling comedy

She's starring in a teen comedy series on Netflix well-timed for quarantine life during the pandemic and counts actress Mindy Kaling among her mentors.

Mississauga, Ont.-born MaitreyiRamakrishnan, 18, catapulted into Hollywood after being hand-picked last year by Kaling, known for her roles on The Office andLate Night. Ramakrishnanhad respondedto an open casting call on social mediato star in Kaling's new comedy series, Never Have I Ever.

The series, which debuts Monday on Netflix, is already garnering early acclaim from critics and promises binge-worthy entertainment for young people stuck at home and eagerforvicarious high school antics.

After seeing theinitial video that Ramakrishnansent in for fun, shot by her best friend at theircommunity library,"because neither of us had, like, a nice blank wall"producers wanted to see more.

"They asked me to send more tapes," Ramakrishnantold CBC News. "Iread that email thinking 'OK, the standard must have been set low' like, 'this isan automated email, right?'"

Far from it.

WATCH| Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and co-creator Lang Fisher discuss the casting with CBC's Zulekha Nathoo:

Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and showrunner Lang Fisher tell CBC's Zulekha Nathoo about the casting process

4 years ago

Duration 2:39

A new teen comedy from Mindy Kaling cast a Canadian with no professional acting experience from 15,000 hopefuls

Shouldering a show

According to Kalingand co-creatorLang Fisher, 15,000 hopefuls had reached out from around the world to play the teenage character of Devi Viswakumar before they landed on Ramakrishnan. She was cast with no professional acting experience.

"It could have gone so badly. It really could have been a major mistake," said Fisher. "All of a sudden, a show is riding on your shoulders and the only thing you've done before that isyour high school production of Chicago.I think I would have had panic attacks. But she didn't. She really showed up."

Never Have I Everfollows 15-year-old Devi, an overachieving high schooler whose outbursts and decision-making areoften driven by a combination of teenage emotions and hormones. She's also trying to cope withthe death of her father.

Added resonance

The story, loosely based on Kaling's childhood, weavesthe difficult and unique balancing act experienced by many first-generation kids: trying to navigatea traditional, often stricthousehold (Devi describes herself as Indian, but not "Indian, Indian") and also manage regular teen desires for friends, popularity and romance.

The series comes as Netflixreports nearly 16 million new subscribers amid global lockdowns. It could take on added resonance, too, as physical distancing has deprived many teens of formative experiences, such ashanging out togetherand attending prom.

"During this quarantine, it's really stressful for teens," said Nancy Wang Yuen, aLos Angeles-based sociologist and author of the book,Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism."Tosee yourself represented and to be able to maybe think about some of the issues that you're also dealing with being able to see that represented on screenI think is healthy."

'Things can be OK'

Fisher,who serves as the series showrunner,previously wrote for comedies, such as30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nineand Kaling'sThe Mindy Project.

"What I hope is thatteenagers watching this will feel like someone is showing them how to express what they'refeelingand that they will see that there is, like, light at the end of the tunnel," Fisher said. "Though times are hard right now, things can be OKdown the road."

While the series focuses on Devi's charmingescapades and hot-headeddemeanour, it also touches ongrief,family strain and belonging.

The budding actor,who's isolating in Mississauga with her family, is"keeping her fingers crossed" for a Season 2 but for nowis back to regular teenage life.

"Just making my own videos here at home, working on myTikTok," she joked, when asked how she's keeping busy. "Because that's what you do in quarantine."