Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria and actor, writer, and producer Mindy Kaling have both earned a place on The Hollywood Reporter's '2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100' list. The Hollywood Reporter recognized their significant contributions, including setting box office records, filling arenas, and revitalizing the Hollywood industry.
These two Indian-Americans, among other influential women in the industry, were celebrated for their exceptional achievements in 2023, which set new standards for success in the ever-changing cultural landscape.
Bela Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 and assumed the role of Chief Content Officer in January 2023, becoming responsible for the streaming service's television and film content. She was crucial in delivering hit shows like 'Bridgerton,' 'The Queen's Gambit,' 'Lupin,' and 'Cobra Kai.'
Bajaria manages a substantial annual content budget of $17 billion in her current position and oversees teams in 27 countries. Over the past year, she has brought Netflix's 238 million members some of its most popular titles, including 'The Night Agent' and 'Wednesday,' which became the most-watched English-language original on the platform and contributed significantly to the streamer's 03 Emmy nominations.
Mindy Kaling embarked on her professional journey as an intern on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" before transitioning to writing and performing in various sketch comedy shows, including "Matt and Ben." In 2004, she joined the hit television series 'The Office' as a writer and performer; later, she created & starred in her own show, 'The Mindy Project,' which premiered in 2012.
Kaling is currently working on 'Secret Lives of College Girls' and has a deal with Amazon MGM Studios for titles in her Mindy's Book Studio book club.
On the acting front, Kaling lent her voice to Velma in Max's animated Scooby-Doo series of the same name. She also appears on 'The Morning Show.' In a notable achievement earlier in the year, President Joe Biden honored her with the prestigious National Medal of Arts, one of the highest awards presented to artists and arts patrons by the US government.