New Delhi, June 26: Actor-turned-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has stirred controversy by questioning the religious and cultural identity of Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin New York politician who recently won the Democratic primary in the race for New York City mayor.
Mamdani, 33, a Democratic Socialist and current New York State Assemblyman, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a surprise upset, positioning him as a potential frontrunner to become NYC’s first Muslim mayor.
Following his primary victory, Ranaut shared a video clip of Mamdani from a past protest on her X (formerly Twitter) handle and made pointed remarks about his identity. Referring to his parents — celebrated Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan-born academic Mehmood Mamdani (of Indian Gujarati origin) — she wrote:
“His mother is Mira Nair, one of our best filmmakers, Padmashri, a beloved and celebrated daughter born and raised in great Bharat based in New York. She married Mehmood Mamdani… He sounds more Pakistani than Indian… whatever happened to his Hindu identity or bloodline and now he is ready to wipe out Hinduism, wow!!”
While Ranaut ended her post by congratulating the parents and noting her past interactions with Mira Nair, her remarks have been widely seen as an attempt to conflate religious identity with national loyalty, triggering a flurry of criticism and debate online.
Mamdani’s Rise and Platform
Born in Uganda and raised in the United States, Zohran Mamdani made history as one of the few South Asian and Muslim figures to be elected to the New York State Assembly. His campaign for mayor focused on progressive reforms including:
- Rent freezes
- Universal childcare
- Free public transit
- Higher taxes on the wealthy
He received endorsements from progressive heavyweights like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and the New York Working Families Party.
Former rival Andrew Cuomo praised Mamdani’s grassroots campaign in his concession speech, stating:
“Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night. He inspired young people and ran a highly impactful race.”
Broader Implications
Ranaut’s remarks are part of a larger pattern in which public figures have drawn attention to the cultural or religious identity of political leaders, both in India and abroad, often invoking concerns around nationalism and religion. While some supporters defended her right to express concerns about religious conversions and cultural identity, others condemned the comments as divisive and Islamophobic.
Zohran Mamdani has not responded publicly to Ranaut’s post as of this writing.