Bela Bajaria
Hitmaker
BY MINDY KALING
You know those people who just make
things happen? The ones that hear
no, or are told, “It’s not going to work
out,” and take that as simply a matter
of opinion, and not as fact? That’s Bela
Bajaria. Her career is full of gambles
that have materialized into huge suc-
cesses. This is a risky path that we—
as women of color in entertainment—
are not always encouraged to take.
Bela is helping create the fu-
ture of television. The shows she
has shepherded have become global
phenomenons, bridging people and
cultures by reminding us that, at the
end of the day, we all love sex (Bridger-
ton), love (Indian Matchmaking), and
sometimes, yes, murder competitions
(Squid Game). She is opening doors for
women and people of color by support-
ing them and giving them a platform
to make hits. My show, Never Have
I Ever, a coming-of-age comedy about
an Indian American teen, was seen by
40 million people when it debuted on
Netfl ix. It was Bela’s idea to make that
show! I worried it would be too spe-
cifi c and niche to have wide appeal.
Bela had the foresight to see that there
is no “niche” anymore—there’s just
good, relatable storytelling, which is al-
ways universal.Kaling is an actor and an Emmy-
nominated producer and writer82 TIME June 6/June 13, 2022