Mindy Kaling Worries Daughter, 7, 'Might Not Buy' B.J. Novak's Annual Santa Surprise: 'He's a Good Actor, but ... '

Mar. 15, 2025

B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling in Los Angeles on July 25, 2022.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty

B. J. Novak and Mindy Kaling at the Los Angeles premiere of “Vengeance” at the Ace Hotel on July 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty

Mindy Kalingis striving to keep the Christmas magic alive for her kids, even if one of them might be getting a little suspicious aboutB.J. Novak’s annual jolly disguise.While promoting season 3 of her showThe Sex Lives of College GirlsonGood Morning AmericaWednesday, Dec. 4, Kaling reflected on how her longtime friend and formerThe Officecostar “dresses up as Santa” every year for her three children: daughterKatherine “Kit” Swati, who turns 7 this month, sonSpencer Avu, 4, and daughterAnne, 9 months.“We create this whole thing where we’re making hot chocolate in the house, the doorbell rings and it’s him dressed as Santa,” Kaling, 45, said of Novak, 45. “And he’s like, ‘Oh, the sleigh broke down, I need to come in and take a rest while we refuel!' ““Then thekids get to meet Santaand he asks them if they’ve been good or bad,” she continued. “Then he leaves, and they’re so excited. But the 7-year-old, it’s going to be interesting this year because I feel like she might not buy it. The 4-year-old, we’re not sure.““They know him very well, especially. And he’s a good actor, but … " Kaling added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.B.J. Novak as Santa Claus, with Mindy Kaling’s daughter Kit.ABCAnd “so far,” theMindy Projectalum said, she and Novak have “pulled it off” for the siblings — but now, “This is going to be the year where we hope the oldest one will be chill for the younger two.“Of Novak’s technique, Kaling said, “He wears the pillow under the suit and [says] ‘Ho, ho, ho, hello little children.’ It’s a very funny character.“According to the actress, Novak is “taking a lot of inspiration fromMichael Scott in a Santa suit,” referencing their hit seriesThe Office. “We seemed to always putSteve Carrellin this outfit — which felt like it was so funny to us, the writers, that we did it multiple times later,” Kaling recalled.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Mindy Kaling onGood Morning AmericaDec. 4, 2024.ABCKaling’s tradition ofhaving Novak play Santa for her kidsgoes back to 2020, when she was unable to take Kit and Spencer to see Santa Claus at their local outdoor mall during the COVID-19 pandemic.TheNever Have I Everco-creator said at the time that she and Novak planned for him to be “asleep on the sofa” with a bag of toys as if he “needed to take a rest.““It’s so complicated why Santa was there, why he’s taking a nap,” Kaling continued. “But we’re gonna do that. We’re like, ‘Will she know it’s [B.J.] on some level?’ We don’t know.““Just so you know, it’s like, we’re Hindu and B.J. is Jewish, so this is really … like, cultural appropriation on our part,” she jokingly added.Good Morning Americaairs weekdays (beginning at 7 a.m. ET) on ABC.

Mindy Kalingis striving to keep the Christmas magic alive for her kids, even if one of them might be getting a little suspicious aboutB.J. Novak’s annual jolly disguise.

While promoting season 3 of her showThe Sex Lives of College GirlsonGood Morning AmericaWednesday, Dec. 4, Kaling reflected on how her longtime friend and formerThe Officecostar “dresses up as Santa” every year for her three children: daughterKatherine “Kit” Swati, who turns 7 this month, sonSpencer Avu, 4, and daughterAnne, 9 months.

“We create this whole thing where we’re making hot chocolate in the house, the doorbell rings and it’s him dressed as Santa,” Kaling, 45, said of Novak, 45. “And he’s like, ‘Oh, the sleigh broke down, I need to come in and take a rest while we refuel!' "

“Then thekids get to meet Santaand he asks them if they’ve been good or bad,” she continued. “Then he leaves, and they’re so excited. But the 7-year-old, it’s going to be interesting this year because I feel like she might not buy it. The 4-year-old, we’re not sure.”

“They know him very well, especially. And he’s a good actor, but … " Kaling added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

B.J. Novak as Santa Claus, with Mindy Kaling’s daughter Kit.ABC

Mindy Kaling Worries Older Daughter, 7, ‘Might Not Buy’ B.J. Novak’s Annual Santa Surprise

ABC

And “so far,” theMindy Projectalum said, she and Novak have “pulled it off” for the siblings — but now, “This is going to be the year where we hope the oldest one will be chill for the younger two.”

Of Novak’s technique, Kaling said, “He wears the pillow under the suit and [says] ‘Ho, ho, ho, hello little children.’ It’s a very funny character.”

According to the actress, Novak is “taking a lot of inspiration fromMichael Scott in a Santa suit,” referencing their hit seriesThe Office. “We seemed to always putSteve Carrellin this outfit — which felt like it was so funny to us, the writers, that we did it multiple times later,” Kaling recalled.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Mindy Kaling onGood Morning AmericaDec. 4, 2024.ABC

Mindy Kaling Worries Older Daughter, 7, ‘Might Not Buy’ B.J. Novak’s Annual Santa Surprise

Kaling’s tradition ofhaving Novak play Santa for her kidsgoes back to 2020, when she was unable to take Kit and Spencer to see Santa Claus at their local outdoor mall during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TheNever Have I Everco-creator said at the time that she and Novak planned for him to be “asleep on the sofa” with a bag of toys as if he “needed to take a rest.”

“It’s so complicated why Santa was there, why he’s taking a nap,” Kaling continued. “But we’re gonna do that. We’re like, ‘Will she know it’s [B.J.] on some level?’ We don’t know.”

“Just so you know, it’s like, we’re Hindu and B.J. is Jewish, so this is really … like, cultural appropriation on our part,” she jokingly added.

Good Morning Americaairs weekdays (beginning at 7 a.m. ET) on ABC.

source: people.com