Can we talk about Devi’s style? It includes lots of mixed prints and lots of cool layers. What were the early conversations about her wardrobe, and how do you think it has evolved over the three seasons?
The first person I actually spoke to on the show from the crew was the costume designer of seasons one and two, Salvador Pérez. He worked on it all Project Mindy seasons. He called me on Skype because it was pre-pandemic and no one knew what Zoom was. I was in Canada, and he was getting to know me. I said to everyone, like my parents, “Okay, quiet, this is a serious call.” We are getting to know each other and [Salvador] asked, “What kind of clothes do you like?” And I said, “Hoodies are great. I have a lot of sweaters and stuff. ” And then he asked, “What color do you like?” And I said, “Black is great because it goes with everything, so I find myself wearing a lot of black and dark green or dark blue, just dark colors.” It was difficult because he was trying to incorporate my own style, but he nailed it. Starting the show, I liked that Devi was so different from my personal style. But now, because of Devi [and] Working with all those prints and exploring all these colors, I was able to explore fashion more. Right now, I’m really just wearing a dark green hoodie and black sweatpants, but in normal life, I don’t dress like this. I was able to color and print more because I had to experiment and try with Devi. Some of Devi’s things that I can see are heavily influenced by Mindy’s outfit above Project Mindy, that’s really great. The fabric from season one — when Devi was doing a little fashion show shoot for her sister Paxton — is actually the fabric used in the show. Project Mindy. Or are there the bracelets Devi was wearing in episode four of season one that are actually Mindy’s bracelets again Project Mindy. I love Devi’s style. I think it’s great. How could anyone think that this kid wouldn’t be cool when she was dragged to school like that? That’s the biggest flaw in the conspiracy I have never. The United Nations of Eleanor, Fabiola and Devi, that doesn’t make sense. They look too flying to be nerds. It’s a hole in the plot. I will say that. I love Fabiola polos.
What was one of the most rewarding aspects of being a part of this project?
One? Have a lot of. Part of the top of my head, if I’m looking broadly here, it’s exciting as we’re nearing the end of filming because it’s like, “Well, that’s it.” I had this moment where I was like, “Wait, Maitreyi, what do you think is going to happen? What do you think happens at the age of 19, 18, 17 years old? Do we just keep doing this show forever? God, let’s talk about rejection, man. “Obviously there must be an end. But then I said, “Well, no matter what project or project comes my way, this will always be the first.” And that will always be special, no matter what I do. It’s the best thing in the world. This will always be the first and it changes the game. The show has really shown the world a lot about proper inclusive representation and diversity in the selection process. We’re not just that brown girl’s show. We’re just a funny show that happens to have a brown girl in the foreground. And I think that’s really great. The moment I found out everyone consulted I have never in college essays, that’s crazy. This is truly a much bigger game changer than Devi’s character.
Think ahead about what’s next for you, what projects or stories really excite you?
Honestly, projects fall into the same circuit as “I’ll make you feel something and change the way you watch movies and TV” [projects that] makes you realize that characters who look like me can do more than one thing. … One thing I had to learn was how to take a vacation because it was a hot minute. But that aside, because of how impactful Devi is and the way I said earlier that she shows so many points in her personality, I just want to take characters that are like that, on par. equal if not more. That just respects Devi, my daughter. I can’t take on some of the characters coded then or be part of a surface-only project. And superficiality doesn’t mean just saying a comedy makes you laugh. It doesn’t have to be dark, scary, or sad. I have never is a comedy, but we will make you cry. So that’s the kind of project I want to move into or things I want to be a part of.
