Mira Nair Finds a New Audience as Mother of Zohran Mamdani

Mira Nair is accustomed to public attention. She stands out in the film industry by capturing the intimate social and cultural dimensions of Indian life. As she begins her latest film focusing on Amrita Sher-Gil, a notable early 20th-century Hungarian-Indian painter, she observes a shift in how people recognize her.

Many now approach Ms. Nair not solely for her filmmaking achievements, but as the mother of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City. Some, including young artists on her film set, express how his political ideas resonate with them.

She mentions that her husband, Mahmood Mamdani, an academic, has also experienced a similar response. At a cafe in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, he received a complimentary beverage upon the owner learning of his relation to the mayor, with patrons applauding as Ms. Nair recounts the incident.

I feel like we have given him to the world, she said.

Sitting in a temporary apartment in Amritsar, India, where part of her movie is being filmed, Ms. Nair shares her reflections. She decorates the space with familiar items, such as small rugs and a Jaipuri block-printed quilt, to make it homey. A campaign poster of her son rests prominently on a shelf. During conversations, she refers to him as “Zohru,” “Z,” or “our boy.”

Despite concerns from her handlers about focusing solely on Mr. Mamdani during their 90-minute conversation, their discussion extends beyond that. There is ample time to delve into her upcoming film, initially titled “Amri,” which aims for a release in 2027.

While sharing a home-cooked dish of shrimp curry and rice, the dialogue shifts to her processing her son’s responsibilities managing New York City, one of the world’s vibrant cities. Sharing that she flew from Amritsar to New York for her son’s inauguration, Ms. Nair recounts her visit to his official residence, Gracie Mansion.