Zohran Mamdani had hidden Disney movie cameo 9 years ago

Zohran Mamdani and his mother, actress Mira Nair. Credit / Getty Images

He’s the talk of the town today, and with good reason. Zohran Mamdani was yesterday confirmed as the next mayor of New York City, having won the 2025 election by a landslide.

Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York City and the first of South Asian heritage, secured more votes than all other candidates – including the likes of Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa – combined.

Aged just 34, he’s set to be the youngest NYC mayor in over 100 years, but as recently as a year ago, people barely knew his name.

At his election night rally outside the Brooklyn Paramount, Mamdani delivered a message celebrating New York’s identity as a city of immigrants:

”New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”

And he didn’t stop there. He wasted no time in calling out President Donald Trump. In front of a cheering crowd, he delivered four pointed words directly at the president:

”Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!”

Quite the explosive statement from a man who was more or less unknown in the public sphere a mere 12 months ago. The Democratic Socialist is the son of acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair, known for directing Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay!.

And it transpires that Mamdani’s ties to the movie industry don’t end there – the newly-elected mayor actually appeared in a Disney movie nine years ago!

In 2016, Mamdani featured in Disney’s Queen of Katwe, a film based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young Ugandan girl who rose from humble beginnings to become a world chess champion.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Director Mira Nair and son music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani attend the premiere of Disney’s ‘Queen Of Katwe’ at the El Capitan Theatre on September 20, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Barry King/Getty Images)

Mamdani’s involvement in the project included acting as the third assistant director and music supervisor, while he also played a small role in the film, credited as “Bookie Student”.

Not only that, but the new New York mayor also performed a rap song, #1 Spice, under the artist name Young Cardamom, contributing to the film’s soundtrack.

Mamdani is also credited with having wielded some influence over his mother’s career too, at least in so far as her turning down a major opportunity. Nair revealed in 2018 that her son had convinced her to turn down a Harry Potter directing gig offered by Warner Bros.

Instead, the 68-year-old directed The Namesake. As per Screenrant, Nair said: “He said to me, ‘Mama, many good directors can make Harry Potter, but only you can make The Namesake’.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 04: Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks at his election night watch party at the Brooklyn Paramount on November 04, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the closely watched election for New York City mayor. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Mamdani certainly takes the New York City mayor’s job with a deal of pressure on his shoulders, not least from Washington and current POTUS Donald Trump.

Trump and Mamdani clashed repeatedly during the mayoral election, with the latter taking aim at the president in his victory speech.

“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” the 34-year-old said.

“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’.”

Trump took to Truth Social hours after the results, writing: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”

Do you think Mamdani will do a good job as Mayor of New York? Let us know in the comments box.