Mira Nair, a renowned filmmaker, is used to attracting attention. Known for her films that explore the social and cultural intricacies of Indian life, Nair is currently working on a new project. This latest film centers on Amrita Sher-Gil, a Hungarian-Indian painter from the early 20th century.
However, Nair has noticed a shift in how people perceive her. Many now recognize her as the mother of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City. On the set of her film, young artists expressed how Mamdani’s political views inspired them.
Nair’s husband, Mahmood Mamdani, also receives attention due to their son’s prominence. At a coffee shop in Dar es Salaam, the shop owner offered him a free beverage after learning of his connection to the mayor. Other patrons cheered in recognition.
“I feel like we have given him to the world,” said Nair.
Sitting across from me in her temporary apartment in Amritsar, she had made the space her own with personal touches like small rugs and a Jaipuri quilt. A campaign poster of her son adorned a shelf. She affectionately refers to him as “Zohru,” “Z,” or simply “our boy.”
Despite her handlers’ concerns that our discussion would focus solely on Mamdani within the allotted 90 minutes, our conversation extended well into an additional hour. This allowed us ample time to discuss her film, tentatively titled “Amri,” which is set for a 2027 release.
During our meal of shrimp curry and rice, I asked Nair about her experiences watching her son govern one of the world’s most dynamic cities. She traveled from Amritsar to New York for his inauguration and captured footage of the event. She also visited his official residence, Gracie Mansion.