NYC Mayor's Big Break: Why Zohran Mamdani Passed on Lead Role in A Suitable Boy

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In an exclusive interview with THR India, acclaimed director Mira Nair revealed that she initially considered her son, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for the lead role in the 2019 BBC period drama miniseries A Suitable Boy. Nair, who directed and adapted the show from Vikram Seth's 1993 novel of the same name, expressed her desire to have Zohran play the 'suitable boy' in the story. However, Zohran turned down the offer, citing that he didn't feel the need to pursue an acting career. Nair noted that her son had the ability to 'make joy' and had briefly appeared in a shot for her 2014 film Queen of Katwe. A Suitable Boy follows the story of a family's search for a suitable match for Lata Mehra, played by Tanya Maniktala. The show features a diverse cast, including Tabu and Ishaan Khatter, and was the first BBC period drama series to have a non-white cast. In the interview, Nair expressed her disappointment that Zohran didn't take on the lead role but remains hopeful that he might consider acting in the future. 'I'd love it if he did,' she said. Despite missing out on the opportunity, Zohran is now the Mayor of New York City, a role that has brought him to the forefront of public life.