5 Renowned Indian-Origin Women Directors Part Of Hollywood Industry

Indian actors as well as directors are making their way into the Hollywood industry with their talents and skills in the cinema. Their creativity has been well received by the international audience and people have started recognising Indian talent at an international scale. These five Indian origin female directors have made a name for themselves with their talent of filmmaking.

Indian actors Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are joined by Alia Bhatt as she is currently working on her Hollywood debut film called Heart of Stone alongside Jamie Dornan. The Netflix film also stars Gal Gadot and is expected to release in 2023 with no official release date as of yet. Priyanka Chopra is working with Indian origin actor-director Mindy Kaling on her next wedding-themed romance-comedy Hollywood film. It is reported that Priyanka Chopra will play the role of a Punjabi cousin to Bengali-American Kaling. Along with actors, India has also given many female directors who have made a name for themselves on international platform.

These Indian origin female directors have amassed popularity among the international audience over the years:

Mira Nair

Mira Nair is an Indian filmmaker based in New York who primarily creates films based on the Indian society for international audience. Her best known films include Mississippi Masala, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay!. Salaam Bombay was nominated for Best Foreign Language film at the 1989 Academy Awards and won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. She was also offered to direct Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix but it was turned down for The Namesake. Most recently, she directed BBC One TV series A Suitable Boy.

Mira Nair

Deepa Mehta

Deepa Mehta is an Indo-Canadian director and screenwriter. She is the recipient of Governor General's Performing Arts Award, the Canadian highest honour in performing arts. Deepa Mehta is best known for her Elements trilogy including Fire, Earth and Water, Bollywood/Hollywood and Midnight's Children. Earth was submitted by India as well as Water was the Canadian entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Her recent works include Anatomy of Violence along with series like Leila, Little America and Yellowjackets.

Deepa Mehta

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is an American actor, comedian, director, writer and producer with Indian roots. She is widely known for her role as Kelly Kapoor on American sitcom The Office. Mindy Kaling has written and directed shows like The Office, The Mindy Project, Champions, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Never Have I Ever and The Sex Lives of College Girls. She will be next seen alongside Priyanka Chopra in her upcoming Hollywood rom-com film based with an Indian wedding theme. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades over the years as a writer, actor as well as comedian.

Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha is a British director of Indian origin who primarily create films based on Indian women living in the UK. While most of her films are perceived as light-hearted comedies, they actually address the social and emotional issues faced by most immigrants with converging cultures. Her famous works include Bhaji on the Beach, Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice among others. The most recent works are musical comedy-drama Blinded by the Light and TV show Beecham House.

Bornila Chatterjee

Writer and filmmaker Bornila Chatterjee is known for her films like Let's Be Out, The Sun is Shining and The Hungry which stars actors including Naseeruddin Shah, Sayani Gupta and Tisca Chopra. While the former was screened at 2012 New York Indian Film Festival, the latter was selected for its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.