Mira Nair reacts to son Zohran Mamdani’s NYC victory with an Instagram reshare

Akhtar’s story, which Nair reposted, featured the caption “Zohran you beauty” accompanied by heart and firework emojis. She also congratulated him, writing, “Zohran Mamdani has officially won the NYC mayoral race at 34 years old.”

The post came just hours after New Yorkers elected Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive, as their next mayor in a closely watched race that also saw Democrats secure key gubernatorial victories—sending an early signal to former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Born in Uganda to acclaimed historian Mahmood Mamdani and director Mira Nair—best known for Salaam Bombay!—Zohran Mamdani’s rapid political rise has been both celebrated and criticised, with detractors labelling him a “nepo baby.”

Defying expectations, Mamdani, representing the Democratic Party’s progressive faction, defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa.

“The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this,” Mamdani told a jubilant crowd during his victory speech.

He described his win as a mandate for working-class New Yorkers. “Tonight, New York, you have delivered a mandate for change,” he declared, pledging to “wake up each morning with one purpose — to make this city better for you than it was the day before.”

At his Brooklyn victory celebration, supporters erupted in cheers, waving campaign posters and the New York City flag as Bad Bunny tracks blared through the speakers.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere was subdued at Andrew Cuomo’s midtown Manhattan watch party.

Conceding defeat, Cuomo described his campaign as “a caution flag that we are headed down a dangerous road,” adding that “almost half of New Yorkers did not vote to support a government agenda that makes promises we know cannot be met.”