New York’s newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani is receiving an outpouring of congratulations from across the globe and not just from Indian Americans proud to see one of their own take the city’s top job. Warm wishes have also poured in from India’s film and entertainment world, with several Bollywood figures celebrating Mamdani’s historic win as a moment of pride that bridges cultures and communities on both sides of the ocean.
But why has Mamdani’s victory struck such a chord? Is it merely because he’s an Indian American, or because of the way he infused his campaign with Hindi cinema’s color and energy, from referencing Bollywood classics to closing his victory speech with the iconic “Dhoom Machale” track, a moment that lit up social media across two continents? The answer runs deeper.
Mamdani is the son of acclaimed Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair, whose own work has long celebrated the cultural ties between India and the United States, a legacy her son now carries into public office in his own way.
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Friends from the film industry and close associates of Mira Nair have been quick to share their joy over her son’s milestone. Many who have worked with the celebrated filmmaker over the years described Mamdani’s win as a proud moment not just for Nair’s family but for the broader creative community that has long admired her work. Messages from actors, directors, and artists flooded social media, reflecting both affection for Nair and admiration for her.
From India’s celebrated music composer Pritam Chakraborty, who expressed his delight at hearing his track “Dhoom Machale” turn into a symbol of global celebration, to Kama Sutra star Indira Varma, who shared a warm message for Zohran Mamdani, the wishes have been heartfelt and widespread. Even Indian political leader Shashi Tharoor joined in, calling Mamdani’s victory an inspiring moment that reflects the growing presence and influence of Indian Americans in global public life. Across art, politics, and culture, the tone has been one of optimism, pride, and shared joy for what Mamdani’s win represents.
Speaking to India Tv, Pritam stated, “Never expected it, but Dhoom Machale playing on stage to celebrate Zohran Mamdani’s win is a big high for our soft power as a country and deeply satisfying for me personally.” Pritam added further, calling Nair, “a legend and a wonderful lady,” saying, “I wish her and her son, Zohran, great success.”
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Indira Varma, who starred in Mira Nair’s 1996 period film Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, and has known the family for years, congratulated Zohran Mamdani with a nostalgic message, saying, “Saw it coming when you were 6.”
Joining the chorus of warm wishes, veteran Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi also congratulated Zohran Mamdani on becoming New York City’s first Muslim and youngest mayor.
Taking to Facebook, Azmi shared a heartfelt note celebrating his achievement, calling it a moment of immense pride. As she states, “Zohraan Mamdani wins !!!! I am over the moon ! Not only because Zohraan is Mira and Mahmoud’s son but because of who Zohraan is and the hope he represents for social justice. I have been watching his campaign closely .. inspite of all the negative publicity that was manufactured against him with Trump even pathetically saying that “ I am better looking than him!” Zohraan is young and promises “Politics is not something that is done to us , politics is something we do for ourselves . A bold vision of what we can achieve not excuses for what hasn’t been done!” in her one of the Facebook posts.
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Adding to the wave of congratulations, a host of well-known names from both Hollywood and Bollywood including Zoya Akhtar, Lupita Nyong’o, Hansal Mehta, Poorna Jagannathan, Sonam Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Saba Ali Khan Pataudi also celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s victory, applauding his historic achievement and the sense of hope it brings to a new generation of leaders.
In many ways, the Bollywood connection became an unexpected yet powerful thread in Zohran Mamdani’s rise blending politics, culture, and storytelling into a shared celebration. His campaign’s cinematic energy, the echoes of Hindi film music, and his deep-rooted link to Mira Nair’s creative world all helped him strike a chord far beyond New York’s political circles.
The flood of heartfelt messages and celebratory posts, many reshared on Nair’s Instagram stories capture how deeply the film fraternity identifies with this moment.