“Never Have I Ever” Star on The Fourth and Final Season

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, HOST: Up next, we are speaking with the star of Mindy Kaling’s hit show “Never Have I Ever.” Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays Devi, an Indian American high schooler navigating life, love and loss with none other than tennis legend, John McEnroe, narrating every twist and turn. The final season drops on Netflix this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN, ACTRESS, “NEVER HAVE I EVER”: So, all in all, things were decent. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet. I’m not sure I’m good enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know it’s scary. Our lives are changing, but change is good.

RAMAKRISHNAN: I’ve got this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And we are thrilled to have Maitreyi join us now from New York. Welcome to the program. Wow. What a ride it has been.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: We have been following your character navigate through high school for three seasons now. The show has amassed a huge following. What is this like for you and is it a bittersweet moment knowing that this is the final season?

RAMAKRISHNAN: Honestly, yes. It’s been a real rollercoaster journey since I was 17, back in 2019, where I was, you know, going to Hollywood to learn that I love acting so much and I love nothing more than that. But now, it feels, yes, bittersweet, but honestly, mainly sweet. I’m so excited for the fans to see season four and what we have going on. And I’m just excited for like, you know, the future, because all good things to come to an end. And I am very grateful for the whole ride that it’s been.

GOLODRYGA: Well, it has been a wonderful ride for your fans. And I have to tell you, there are quite a few on the Amanpour team as well, and I have become your latest one, because I started watching the show and I thought, you know, I’m going to do my research as a journalist and watch one or two episodes, and, of course, I get hooked and I like keep watching because it’s so addictive. And you really have a way of connecting with, not only your character, but also with some of the main themes that high schoolers are dealing with and young girls are dealing with in the country. How are you able to really connect with your character that way?

RAMAKRISHNAN: Well, I think — in all honesty, I think that Devi’s character actually — and really all the characters, are dealing with things that are pretty universal, not just for young girls and not just for young teens, they’re doing such human realities of insecurity, self-confidence, self-love and all those journeys that come with that. And that is why so many people, like myself, can see themselves in the characters that you find in “Never Have I Ever,” whether it’s Devi or maybe Ben or Paxton or Nalini, anyone in, you know, Devi’s family, and I think that is the beauty of what makes the show what it is.

GOLODRYGA: And it’s also something that so many people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds can identify with as well, because you touched on issues that impact all of us and all teenagers, but you talk about the cultural aspect of it as well. And an immigrant myself, I appreciate that, because there are times in your youth when you’re a little embarrassed or you just want to fit in and blend in with everyone else. Let’s show our viewers a clip of just one of those cultural moments that Devi experiences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAMAKRISHNAN: First, I would like to thank you for taking care of my dad, and making sure he has ESPN on repeat up in heaven, it means a lot to us. Also, if you have to time to please bless my college application, that would be awesome. That is the most important thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Devi, pray that Dr. Keys is willing to write your recommendation.

RAMAKRISHNAN: I’m on it, mom. Why do you think I’m dressed like a nun today? I’m going to ask her first thing in AP Lit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Like my mom said, a rec from Dr. Keys would be sick. So, obviously, Princeton is numero uno in our priorities this year. But also, I would also love a new phone. The front of mine got cracked when I threw it at a spider.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, baby. God, they’re not Santa Clause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: How did this culture clash play out through this series, and what have your own backstory and family story did you bring with you?

RAMAKRISHNAN: I mean, my own culture is also being Tamil. So, this is just something that I’ve lived my entire life. It’s not necessarily something that I, you know, deliberately bring in any particular way other than just being myself, but it is so amazing to be able to have that in a show, just represented. We don’t need to explain every single aspect and we’re not a documentary, we are a half-hour comedy that aims to be funny. That is, you know, “Never Have I Ever’s” goal. But just by merely existing in this show, we are able to show representation of different cultures and have the specificity that comes with Tamil identity, that I, as a Tamil person, resonate with.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And as we mentioned, the show was co-created by Mindy Kaling and loosely based on her life as well. And this isn’t the type of representation, the Indian American experience that was as prevalent just a few years ago and a decade ago or so or more, we’re seeing more of that now, thankfully. Do you feel a certain responsibility to the Indian American community here, in your portrayal of Devi?

RAMAKRISHNAN: I think, honestly, first of all, not just Indians, but rather South Asians as a whole. The sad truth is, is that people definitely bundle up South Asians into one umbrella. And honestly, even just a bigger umbrella of Asian, and there is a huge responsibility, because we don’t have enough representation yet, and it is also a huge privilege to be able to do what I do. And I know that that only comes with me being able to represent the best possible way I can, which is by being myself, and that can only do so much. So, I try to, you know, keep my expectations realistic of what I’m able to do. But there is a sense of responsibility that Mindy has been holding on to her shoulder for a long time, and many before myself. So, it’s not just me.

GOLODRYGA: You do it masterfully, I have to say.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: And on top of that, your inner monologue, John McEnroe. I mean, who would have thought, and yet, it works so well.

RAMAKRISHNAN: It does.

GOLODRYGA: Christiane talked about this to John about this earlier in a previous conversation. I want to play for our viewers what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCENROE, SEVEN-TIME GRAND SLAM TENNIS CHAMPION: When I read it, I was like, wait a minute, I’m supposed to be the narrator for this high school girl, Indian American girl, who is trying to grow up and figure out how to deal with her friends and friendships and relationships? How did that happen? This is crazy. And I saw a press, they go, this is crazy. And then, crazy, but maybe it would work. So, it turns out, long story short, that Mindy’s father was a big fan in India. She’s is a first generation American — Indian American, obviously coming to the States. Her dealing with, you know, what it was like for her growing up. But the girl had a temper. So, it was like, oh, who else has a temper?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Oh, I grew up watching him. I knew all about that temper. And I have to say, he was a joy to watch. You can’t be serious. And what’s interesting, is this really worked with your character.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: Did the two of you interact at all? I mean, what is that relationship like?

RAMAKRISHNAN: Well, I mean, I did get to, of course, meet him onset in season one. He does make an appearance, which is really super cool. We get to see him in the flesh, instead of just narration. But I did also meet him multiple times in different like table reads, which is super cool. But, yes. I mean, he’s such a good sport about it all. He nails his narration. And it truly is such a great fit for Devi’s character. I mean, they are both hotheads, but people still both root for both of them. I mean, we are rooting for him on the court, we are rooting for Devi in the high school hallways of Sherman Oaks.

GOLODRYGA: What were your first initial thoughts when you read that he would be participating in this series as the narrator of your inner monologue?

RAMAKRISHNAN: I mean, in all transparency, I didn’t know who he was at first, because I’m not a sports person.

GOLODRYGA: I was going to ask you that. If you knew who he was.

RAMAKRISHNAN: I figured that’s what you are going to ask, to be honest. I figured. But no. I’ve said this before and he knows it himself, I didn’t know he was. And because I’m just not a, you know, big sport head. But once we found out, I was like, OK, that’s cool. Happy to have you here. So, yes, it was honestly kind of chill for me, but I just appreciated it as a creative and as a fan of the show of “Never Have I Ever” how smart the decision was on so many levels for Devi’s character.

GOLODRYGA: Extremely creative as well. So, listen, we’ve watched you for the past three years, you’ve got a bright future ahead of you. What is next? What are you thinking of doing?

RAMAKRISHNAN: Probably just, you know, living. Living a little. I’ve kind of worked really hard since I was 17, these past four years, through the pandemic. So, I’m kind of excited to just, yes, be a real human being. And —

GOLODRYGA: Does that mean a break? A break from Hollywood for a bit?

RAMAKRISHNAN: Oh, I’m still going to work, I’m still going to, you know, live my life as a very, very determined actress who understands that she has to run 10 times faster than some people, being a brown woman. But that also means I can respect, you know, my time as a person who needs to know how to have fun and live and embrace life. So, yes.

GOLODRYGA: So, for your fans out there that are sad to see the show come to an end, what are some parting words you have for them?

RAMAKRISHNAN: For the fans that are sad, I will say I think this season is the best season. I think they are going to be very, very happy with it. And if they are not, I mean, it’s the last one. So, I would really strongly encourage you to be happy with it.

GOLODRYGA: I think everyone is pretty happy with it, from some of the reviews that I have read, what I’ve heard from my colleagues as well and from what I’ve seen. Maitreyi, thank you so much for joining us. It is a really fun show, and it’s really exciting to watch you on the screen.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

RAMAKRISHNAN: Thank you.