The Hollywood Reporter and the Mother of New York's Upcoming Mayor Up Close and Personal

"New York City’s New Mayor Had a Secret Weapon on the Campaign Trail: His Mother, Mira Nair. Inside the World of the MOM-Dani" (The Hollywood Reporter)

Photo By: Grace Rivera

In this week’s issue of The Hollywood Reporter, there’s a powerful, intimate profile on award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair "Monsoon Wedding, Queen of Katwe" that dives into her relationship with her son, NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The piece doesn’t just celebrate a proud parent, it shows how deeply Nair has been involved in shaping Mamdani’s rise, from canvassing beside him to turning her own home into campaign HQ, to instilling in him the creativity, confidence, and boldness she built throughout her filmmaking career. It’s a fascinating look at how artistry and politics can intertwine and how Nair’s influence has helped mold one of the most exciting new leaders.

Story Highlights:

• Nair often turned her Upper Manhattan apartment into a bustling campaign hub filled with young staffers working to lift Mamdani’s early 1% polling numbers.

• She championed Mamdani’s creative pursuits, even securing Disney’s support for his “Young Cardamom” music video, which later went viral during his campaign.

• Nair involved Mamdani in her filmmaking from a young age, even choosing projects based on his input, including turning down Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

• Mamdani’s direct, unapologetic style was shaped by Nair’s belief in storytelling that avoids pandering or overexplaining, a philosophy that guided his campaign.

• The family value of kindness, symbolized by a bathroom sign, coexists with Nair’s fierce artistic integrity and her criticism of directors who compromise for studio deals.

• Nair likes Mamdani’s Republican rival Curtis Sliwa but is openly critical of Andrew Cuomo, whose massive donations she believes fueled hostility in the race.

• She sees her films as the core of Mamdani’s political education, shaping his focus on who is considered marginal.

To learn more about The Hollywood Reporter and Mira Nair 's moment, read the full story here.