Why is Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair’s son Zohran Kwame Mamdani suddenly making headlines?
Reason.
Indian-origin democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has emerged as a surprise contender in the 2025 New York mayoral race and surged into the spotlight due to the coveted endorsement of Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Zohran Mamdani, @ZephyrTeachout, and @linamkhan arrive at their Taking On Corporate Power town hall pic.twitter.com/uYbFOOWJwS
— Charlie (@ccbaker2023) June 6, 2025
However, what would make it even more amazing, if elected, would be that Zohran Mamdani would be New York City’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor.
At 33, Zohran Mamdani positioned himself as the challenger to NYC Mayor Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 election, emphasising housing reform, free public transit, and economic equity to rally voter support.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Mamdani moved to New York City at age seven and later became a naturalised citizen.
His mother, Mira Nair, is a celebrated Indian-American filmmaker, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia University.
Raised in Cape Town and New York City, he graduated from Bronx High School of Science and Bowdoin College (B.A., Africana Studies, 2014).
At Bowdoin, he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, marking the beginning of his activism.
In 2020, he was elected to the New York State Assembly for the 36th District, becoming the first South Asian man, the first Ugandan, and the third Muslim to hold that position.
His work has focused on tenant rights, social equity, and public housing reform.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Mamdani co-founded his college’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and entered public life with a clear message: economic justice for working-class New Yorkers.
Campaigning in Desi Style!
Infusing his campaign with a distinct “desi tadka” to connect with South Asian voters and highlight his multicultural identity, Mamdani recently released a campaign video in Hindi, referencing iconic Bollywood films and directly addressing Indian-origin New Yorkers. In the video, he echoes a famous line from the film Deewar, pitting himself against rival Andrew Cuomo and emphasising his commitment to ordinary people over the wealthy elite. The video’s caption—“Billionaires already have everything. Now, your time has come”.
Billionaires ke paas already sab kuchh hai. Ab, aapka time aageya.
Billionaires already have everything. Now, your time has come. pic.twitter.com/bJcgxzt37S
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 4, 2025
Mamdani video post on X opens with a dramatic clip from the 1975 classic Deewar, where Amitabh Bachchan’s character Vijay lists his material possessions with swagger: “Aaj mere paas buildingein hain, property hai, bangla hai, bank balance hai, gaadi hai. Tumhare paas kya hai?” (“Today I have buildings, property, a bungalow, a bank balance, a car. What do you have?”)
Before Shashi Kapoor’s iconic reply can be heard, the scene abruptly cuts. Enter Zohran Mamdani—arms outstretched in Shah Rukh Khan’s trademark pose—responding with just one word: “Aap.” (“I have you, the people.”)
Mamdani also draws on the iconic phrase “Roti, Kapda aur Makaan” — the title of the 1974 Manoj Kumar classic — to underscore his campaign’s central message: the fight for basic affordability for all New Yorkers.
