People are just finding out Zohran Mamdani was in a Disney movie 9 years ago
Topics: Disney, New York, Politics, US News, Zohran Mamdani, Film and TV
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/ANGELA WEISS
Topics: Disney, New York, Politics, US News, Zohran Mamdani, Film and TV
Zohran Mamdani will very soon be the new mayor of New York City, but do you know what he did before his career in politics?
The 34-year-old Democrat was named as the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of NYC this week in a bold victory, but many may not have realized that he is the son of famed Indian-American filmmaker, Mira Nair.
As it turns out, Mamdani made a few connections in Hollywood thanks to his mom, which landed him a little role in something you’ve probably watched less than a decade ago.
She’s actually directed dozens of flicks, such as Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, Salaam Bombay!, and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, earning her acclaim and success internationally and outside of India.
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So naturally, Mamdani had what some would argue is easy access to the entertainment world.
In 2016, Mamdani was cast as ‘Brookie student’ in Disney’s Queen of Katwe, a film which explored the real-life story of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl who became a world chess champion.
While Mamdani was the third assistant director and music supervisor, he also went on to act as an extra in the flick. And on top of all this, he performed a song called ‘#1 Spice’ for the film’s soundtrack too, using the name Young Cardamom.
Anyway, now that he’s put his entertainment hat down, he’s got to play the role of mayor for the largest populated city in the United States.
Mamdani saw overwhelming success on November 4 when he won the race against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa for the lead spot. In the end, he made 50.4 per cent of the vote, which might irk his haters.
For example, 50 Cent has been vocal about not wanting him to take on the mayor role, mostly because he was annoyed at his high-earner tax proposal.
With Mamdani asking for an extra two percent tax by the highest earners in the city for a communal benefit, the rapper took to Instagram to explain how he feels about it.
50 Cent took to his Instagram account to post an AI-generated picture of a gravestone that seemed to imply the city was now dead.
It read: "RIP NYC. FOUNDED 1624. DIED 2025."
As for another hater, President Donald Trump seemed to threaten to withhold federal funding if he won the election.
Taking to Truth Social, he said: “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required.”
Mamdani addressed the president directly in his victory speech, stating: “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.
"This is not only how we stop Trump. It’s how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: 'Turn the volume up.'”