Queen of storytelling Mira Nair's instant 3-word cry of joy on son Zohran Mamdani’s big win

Filmmaker Mira Nair couldn’t contain her joy as her son, Zohran Mamdani, scripted history by winning the New York City mayoral race — becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to lead America’s largest city.

Soon after the results were declared, Nair took to Instagram to celebrate the moment and pour out her instant, succinct-but-telling reaction. While sharing filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s congratulatory story, she wrote with pure pride and joy, “Zohran, you beauty.”

The post was set to Jay-Z’s iconic anthem Empire State of Mind — a fitting tribute to New York, the city her son will now govern, and one the song immortalises as a place of struggle, grit and triumph.

In the days leading up to the polls, Nair had been posting reels and stories campaigning for her 34-year-old son, who ran as a Democratic Socialist candidate.

Though born in Orissa, India, Nair raised Zohran in a deeply global environment. Her son was born in Uganda, Africa, to her and renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani.

A few years ago, she had marked his birthday with a heartfelt note: “Our boy Zohran was born on this day 30 years ago. The light of our lives. Now he brings joy and justice to so many. Bismillah!”

Today, as Empire State of Mind played in the background of her celebration, it echoed not just New York’s story — but a mother’s pride in watching her son rise in the city of dreams.