Parents of Zokhran Mamdani: who are they and how did they influence his life?
25 june 2025 в 17:37
Zohran Mamdani won the victory, becoming the democratic candidate for the mayor of New York, but he would not have been able to achieve this without his family. The politician was raised by his devoted parents, Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, who moved with Zohran to the United States when he was a child.
After Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat in the Democratic primaries in June 2025, Zohran thanked his supporters and family in his speech.
«And, thanks to you, I must thank those who brought me into this world», - he began, before his parents joined him on stage. «I must thank my mother and father, Mira and Mahmood».
Read on to learn more about Zohran’s parents.
Zohran was born in Kampala, Uganda. When he was 5 years old, the Mamdani family moved to Cape Town, South Africa, and then two years later moved to New York. Zohran has lived in the city for most of his life, graduating from the Bronx High School of Science before attending Bowdoin College in Maine.
Mira — Zohran’s mother — is a talented Indian-American film director. Among her most famous films are «Mississippi Masala», - «Namesake», - «Queen of Katwe», - «Monsoon Wedding», - and «Hello Bombay!» The latter was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in English.
Mira earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. She was married to her ex-husband, Mitch Epstein, before their divorce in 1987. Later, Mira met her husband, Mahmood, in Uganda while conducting research for the film «Mississippi Masala».
Mahmood is a scholar, author, political commentator, professor of government at Herbert Lehman College, and professor of anthropology, political science, and African studies at Columbia University, as well as the Chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Mahmood received his doctorate from Harvard University. He married his wife, Mira, in 1991.
Zohran is married to his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian illustrator and animator. The couple met on Hinge and got married in early 2025 in a civil ceremony in New York. Zohran called Rama the love of his life and thanked her in his victorious speech after the Democratic primaries in June 2025.
No, Zohran does not have children
After Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat in the Democratic primaries in June 2025, Zohran thanked his supporters and family in his speech.
«And, thanks to you, I must thank those who brought me into this world», - he began, before his parents joined him on stage. «I must thank my mother and father, Mira and Mahmood».
Read on to learn more about Zohran’s parents.
Zohran was born in Kampala, Uganda. When he was 5 years old, the Mamdani family moved to Cape Town, South Africa, and then two years later moved to New York. Zohran has lived in the city for most of his life, graduating from the Bronx High School of Science before attending Bowdoin College in Maine.
Mira — Zohran’s mother — is a talented Indian-American film director. Among her most famous films are «Mississippi Masala», - «Namesake», - «Queen of Katwe», - «Monsoon Wedding», - and «Hello Bombay!» The latter was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in English.
Mira earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. She was married to her ex-husband, Mitch Epstein, before their divorce in 1987. Later, Mira met her husband, Mahmood, in Uganda while conducting research for the film «Mississippi Masala».
Mahmood is a scholar, author, political commentator, professor of government at Herbert Lehman College, and professor of anthropology, political science, and African studies at Columbia University, as well as the Chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Mahmood received his doctorate from Harvard University. He married his wife, Mira, in 1991.
Zohran is married to his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian illustrator and animator. The couple met on Hinge and got married in early 2025 in a civil ceremony in New York. Zohran called Rama the love of his life and thanked her in his victorious speech after the Democratic primaries in June 2025.
No, Zohran does not have children
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
