Mira Nair's 1st Marriage With Epstein: Met In Harvard, He Was Her Teacher, Punjabi Wedding, Divorce

Mira Nair is an Indian-American filmmaker, based out of New York. She is known for her documentaries and feature films, which mostly deal with controversial matters. Mira was born and raised in Rourkela, Odisha. Mira joined Delhi University in 1975, and the next year, she moved to Harvard University, where she met the man of her dreams. i.e. her first husband, Mitchell Epstein. Mitchell was Mira's photography teacher at Harvard, and they have been together for 12 years, eight of them as husband and wife. Today, we'll look closely into Mira and Mitchell's personal life.

Mira Nair met her first husband, Mitchell Epstein at Harvard, and he was her photography teacher

Mira Nair began her career as an actress. Later, she found an interest in filmmaking. It was for her thesis in sociology that Mira produced her first documentary, Jama Masjid Street Journal, which further intensified her interest in filmmaking, and she followed down that road to do wonders. While being in Harvard University, Mira met Mitchell Epstein. Mitchell was 25 years old back then, and he was Mira's photography teacher at Harvard.

Although, she didn't like photography that much, she formed an instant bond with Mitchell. Talking to The New Yorker, Mira described her ex-husband as a thin, quiet, and detail-oriented person. She took her first class from Epstein back in 1977, and he taught her about the art of photography and the deep meaning that every frame carries.

Mira Nair and her first husband, Mitchell Epstein's relationship

Talking about Mira, Mitchell Epstein said that she wasn't the best student in the class. He also stated that there was something about her that made him feel like she was special. Mira also assisted Mitchell in his photography job. The duo has been together for 12 years. It was in 1981 when Mitchell came to India with Mira and was really worried about how to connect to an Indian family. He also asked Mira what the first word he should say after meeting her Indian family, and Mira asked her to tell them, “Mujhe su-su karna hai”. This story was revealed to The New Yorker by the filmmaker's brother.

The couple got married to each other in a fun-filled Punjabi wedding. Even though Epstein is Jewish from Massachusetts, he wore sherwani and turban, rode horses, and uttered prayers while marrying Mira. The wedding was re-created in Mira Nair's documentary, Moonson Wedding, in 2001. To Mira's ex-husband, their relationship was an inspirational one. He revealed to The New Yorker that Mira's energy and curiosity helped her to grow.

Mitchell Epstein and Mira Nair's divorce

After 12 years of togetherness, and 10 years of marriage, Mitchell and Mira parted ways in 1987. After their split, Mira Nair got married to a political scientist and professor, Mahmood Mamdani in 1988. The couple has a son named Zohran. Mitchell, on the other hand, reportedly got married to his collaborator Susan Bell. The couple has a daughter, and they currently live in New York.

More about Mira Nair's first husband, Mitchell Epstein

Mitchell Epstein is a well-known American photographer and he was one of the leading personalities of the 1970s in capturing coloured portraits of the American landscape. Mitchell Epstein is the receiver of several prestigious awards, such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Prix Pictet, among so many others. Some of the best museums feature Epstein's work such as the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, J. Paul Getty Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and Tate Modern.

Mitchell Epstein is the author of 17 books, including Recreation: American Photographs 1973–1988, Mitch Epstein: Work, American Power, Berlin, New York Arbor, Rocks and Clouds, among so many others. He was also a professor in the photography program at Bard College. Apart from all of these, Mitchell also worked as a director and cinematographer, and worked in movies of Mira Nair, such as Salaam Bombay!, and Mississippi Masala, among others.

What do you think about Mira Nair and Mitchell Epstein's first marriage, which ended in divorce after years of togetherness?

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