Zohran Mamdani Had Convinced Mother, Mira Nair To Direct 'The Namesake' Instead Of 'Harry Potter'

Zohran Kwame Mamdani has taken the world by storm after defeating Andrew Cuomo to win the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City. He is the first Muslim to be associated with the Democratic Socialists of America and also the first South Asian candidate to win a primary for the position of NYC Mayor. However, Zohran has also made a shocking contribution to the world of global cinema. 

Zohran Mamdani is an Indian-American and the son of the talented director, Mira Nair, who won hearts globally with her film, The Namesake, starring Irrfan Khan and Tabu. However, a lesser-known fact about the internationally acclaimed film is that it was Zohran who had persuaded Mira to turn down Harry Potter and direct The Namesake instead. 

Mira Nair had personally connected to The Namesake, but was also approached to direct Harry Potter 

Impressed with Mira Nair's direction in Vanity Fair, Warner Bros. had approached her to direct Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, revealed the director at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018. However, Mira was also supposed to direct the film adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's book, The Namesake. The director stated that the latter project was very close to her heart because the book deals with the subject of losing a parent. Mira was also dealing with the loss of her mother-in-law due to malpractice in a New York hospital at the time. She said about The Namesake:

"I was deep in that melancholy. That’s what inspired me to make The Namesake, because Jhumpa had written in it of this terrible melancholy of losing a parent in a foreign country, which is exactly what I was experiencing."

Mira Nair asked her son, Zohran Mamdani, for advice 

Mira Nair revealed that her son, Zohran, had learnt to read from the Harry Potter books. She was confused between the two films, as both held personal significance for her. At last, the director asked her son for advice before making a choice. Zohran's words really inspired her, who said: 

"Mama, many good directors can make Harry Potter, but only you can make The Namesake.”

Zohran Mamdani had also persuaded Mira Nair to cast Kal Penn for the lead role 

The Namesake starred Bollywood actors Irrfan Khan and Tabu, as well as an Indian-American actor, Kal Penn. Mira Nair was in the lookout for an actor to play the role of 'Gogol' in the film. At that time, Zohran had told her about Kal Penn, known for his comedy film series, Harold and Kumar. However, Mira needed a serious actor for the role, and looking at the film's poster and Kal's expression, she thought, "How can I like this goofy guy?". Zohran had said to Mira Nair:

“I was chasing movie stars for Gogol’s role. And he (Mamdani) said, ‘Mama, you have to watch Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.’ I looked at the poster and thought ‘how can I like this goofy guy?’”

But Zohran Mamdani convinced his mother to watch the film, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. After watching the film, Mira Nair really liked his acting, even though it was a comedy film. After meeting with Kal, Mira cast him in the role of 'Gogol', and the Indian-American actor, stereotyped as a comic character, was finally given a role with gravitas. 

More about Zohran Mamdani 

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an Indian-American politician who is currently running for Mayor of New York City and has defeated Andrew Cuomo to win the Democratic primary. The 33-year-old candidate is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist based in Brooklyn. However, the most astonishing fact is that Zohran is the son of Mira Nair, a director renowned for her illustrious career, which includes films such as Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay!, and others. Meanwhile, Zohran's father is Mahmood Mamdani, an author and political expert of Indian ancestry. With recent data showing high hopes for Zohran, he is predicted to become New York's next Mayor. 

What are your thoughts on Zohran Mamdani pursuing Mira Nair to direct The Namesake instead of Harry Potter? 

Also Read: Kangana Ranaut SLAMS New NYC Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani, 'Sounds More Pakistani Than Indian'

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