Meet Director Mira Nair’s Son, Zohran Mamdani Who is Set to Become Mayor of New York

Zohran Mamdani is the son of celebrated Indian-American director Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani the 33-year-old democratic socialist and son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair is set to become the next Mayor of New York City.

In a stunning upset that’s electrified progressive circles and shaken the city’s political establishment, Mamdani clinched the Democratic nomination by defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in a high-stakes, closely watched ranked-choice primary on Tuesday night.

With 89% of precincts reporting, Mamdani surged ahead with 44% of first-choice votes, outpacing Cuomo’s 36% and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s 11%.

Mamdani centered his campaign around the cost-of-living crisis, striking a chord with voters in a city grappling with soaring rents, wage stagnation, and deep-rooted inequality.

Addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters, Mamdani said, “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City. I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for Governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all. I will work to be a mayor you will be proud to call your own.”

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran Mamdani is the son of celebrated Indian-American director Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani.

Zohran spent his early childhood in Cape Town, South Africa. He has done in schooling from the St. George’s Grammar School then he moved to New York City at the age of 7.

He continued his education at the Bank Street School for Children and later at the prestigious Bronx High School of Science.

In 2014, Mamdani graduated with a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College, a path that laid the foundation for his political consciousness and grassroots activism.

It was during his college years that Mamdani’s political consciousness began to crystallize. He co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, marking the start of a deep commitment to grassroots activism and global solidarity. After college, he dove headfirst into New York’s progressive political landscape volunteering for Khader El-Yateem’s 2017 City Council campaign, managing journalist Ross Barkan’s State Senate bid, and organizing for Tiffany Cabán’s high-profile run for Queens District Attorney.

Each of these efforts sharpened Mamdani’s political instincts and deepened his connections with New York’s working-class and immigrant communities, the very base that helped propel him to the Assembly and now, possibly, to the mayor’s office.

Zohran Mamdani’s rise marks a significant shift in New York’s political landscape blending grassroots activism, cultural heritage, and a bold progressive vision for the future.

A practicing Shia Muslim, Zohran Mamdani married Syrian artist Rama Duwaji earlier this year.

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