Overview

• Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor on June 25 and will represent the party in the November general election.
• At age 14, Mamdani advised Mira Nair to turn down Warner Bros.’ offer to direct a Harry Potter sequel in favor of adapting The Namesake.
• Nair has said her personal grief over her mother-in-law’s death during the Vanity Fair shoot deepened her connection to The Namesake’s themes of loss and identity.
• Mamdani also persuaded his mother to cast Kal Penn as Gogol after recommending Penn’s performance in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
• Before entering politics, Mamdani recorded hip-hop under the moniker Young Cardamom and has since championed progressive measures like rent freezes and universal childcare in the state assembly.