If you’ve spent any time on the corner of the internet obsessed with Never Have I Ever, you’ve probably spent a good chunk of that time debating whether Devi Vishwakumar belonged with Ben Gross or Paxton Hall-Yoshida. It was the love triangle that fueled a thousand TikTok edits. But as the show’s star, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, stepped out of the high school hallways and into the heavy-hitting world of global fame, the questions shifted. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know: who is she actually dating?
Honestly, the obsession with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan relationships is kinda wild when you look at how she actually talks about her life. While fans are busy scouring her Instagram for clues of a secret romance with co-star Jaren Lewison, the reality of her dating life is a lot more nuanced—and arguably way cooler—than the gossip blogs suggest.
The "Team Devi" Mentality and Her Real-Life Status
Maitreyi has always been pretty upfront about where her priorities lie. For years, when asked if she was Team Ben or Team Paxton, her go-to answer was "Team Devi." It wasn't just a clever way to avoid picking sides and upsetting fans. It was a philosophy. She’s gone on record multiple times, including a very candid interview with Laverne Cox, stating that she’s single and actually quite happy about it.
"I think I’m just more of a badass when I’m single," she admitted. That’s a sentiment you don't hear often from young stars in the middle of a career peak.
🔗 Read more: Tom Brady Family: What Most People Get Wrong About the GOAT’s Inner Circle
Most people assume that if a celebrity isn't posting a "hard launch" of a partner, they’re just hiding someone. But Maitreyi seems to be part of a growing group of Gen Z stars who genuinely value their independence. As of early 2026, there is zero evidence of a confirmed boyfriend or girlfriend. She’s focused on her craft, her activism, and her recent partnership as the face of Fable & Mane's 2026 global campaign. When you're busy filming campaigns in India and advocating for gender rights, who really has time for the "u up?" texts?
Why Everyone Thinks She's Dating Jaren Lewison
We have to talk about Jaren. The chemistry between Maitreyi and Jaren Lewison (who played Ben Gross) was so palpable it practically leaked through the screen. Off-camera, they have this incredibly tight bond that keeps the rumor mill churning. They have pet names. They praise each other's acting in every single interview. Jaren has even called her his "best friend in real life."
It’s the classic "shipping" trap. We see two people who genuinely adore each other, share a deep history of working together, and are both incredibly attractive, and our brains go: They must be in love.
But if you listen to them talk, it sounds way more like a sibling-level friendship or a very deep platonic partnership. They’ve supported each other through the whirlwind of becoming famous overnight. Jaren even mentioned in a Q&A how they’d text each other at all hours when new scripts dropped. That kind of "in the trenches" bond creates a type of intimacy that isn't necessarily romantic, but it’s definitely powerful.
Breaking Down the Labels (Or Lack Thereof)
One of the most refreshing things about the way Maitreyi handles the topic of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan relationships is her refusal to be put in a box. In 2022, she made waves by explaining that she doesn't really do labels when it comes to her attraction.
She basically said that she’s a "personality person."
"I don’t care if you’re a boy, girl, or in between," she told Wikipedia and various outlets. She’s looking for someone who understands her, someone who can "read her face perfectly." This open-book approach to her sexuality is part of why she’s become such an icon for her generation. She’s not "coming out" in the traditional, dramatic sense; she’s just stating her reality.
What She Looks For in a Partner:
- Understanding: Someone who gets her "night owl" energy.
- Personality First: The vibe matters way more than the gender.
- High Standards: She’s joked that "too many people annoy me," so you’ve gotta pass the vibe check first.
- Independence: She values her own space and career too much to compromise for a mediocre relationship.
The Darren Barnet Rumors
Early on, there were also whispers about her and Darren Barnet (Paxton). They had a significant age gap in real life—about 11 years—which made the rumors feel a bit more scandalous to some. However, Darren has been in several high-profile relationships, including with actress Mikaela Hoover, and he and Maitreyi have consistently maintained that they are just friends.
The "relationship" there was purely professional and mentorship-based. Darren was the seasoned actor on set, and Maitreyi was the newcomer who had never even been on a professional set before Never Have I Ever.
The Reality of Celebrity Dating in 2026
It’s easy to forget that Maitreyi is still only in her early twenties. While her character Devi was juggling three boyfriends and a heavy dose of academic trauma, Maitreyi herself was navigating the pressures of being a South Asian lead in a massive Netflix hit.
In her more recent 2025 and 2026 appearances, like at SXSW or in her Fable & Mane promos, she carries herself with a lot more groundedness. She talks about hair oiling rituals and Ayurveda with more passion than she does about dating. It’s a reminder that a woman’s "relationship status" isn't the most interesting thing about her.
Why the rumors persist:
- The "Shipping" Culture: Fans want the TV show to be real.
- Social Media Clues: Every "like" or comment on a co-star's post is analyzed like a Da Vinci code.
- Privacy: Because she doesn't talk about it, people fill in the blanks with their own theories.
What's Next for Maitreyi?
If you're looking for a definitive "Maitreyi is dating [Name]" answer, you won't find it because it doesn't exist right now. She’s living her "Team Devi" life. Honestly, it’s probably the smartest move. By keeping her private life private, she avoids the messy "PR relationship" traps that many of her peers fall into.
She’s building a brand that is about authenticity, South Asian pride, and talent. Whether she eventually hard-launches a partner or continues to keep us guessing, she’s made one thing very clear: she’s the lead in her own story, and she doesn't need a love interest to make it a hit.
📖 Related: Christina Hendricks Boob Size: Why the Obsession is Finally Over in 2026
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Respect the Boundary: Understand that a celebrity's on-screen chemistry with a co-star (like Jaren Lewison) is a testament to their acting, not necessarily a sign of a secret romance.
- Look Beyond the Dating Life: Follow Maitreyi's work in activism and her new projects, like her 2026 global campaigns, which offer more insight into her values than a dating rumor ever could.
- Embrace the "Label-Free" Philosophy: Take a page out of her book and prioritize personality and mutual understanding over traditional labels in your own dating life.
The fascination with who she's with isn't going away anytime soon, but maybe it’s time we started being "Team Maitreyi" instead of just wondering who she's taking to dinner.