Hamisha Daryani Ahuja (born 7 July 1984) is an Indian film producer,

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

, actress and businesswoman based in Nigeria. Ahuja made her directorial and acting debut in the

Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

cross-cultural film '' Namaste Wahala''.

Early life

Ahuja was born in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

to a third-generation Indian-origin Sindhi family based in Nigeria. Her family moved to Nigeria when she was two years old and she grew up in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

. She attended

ACS International School ACS International Schools, known as American Community Schools until 2005, is a group of international schools operating three schools near the edge of Greater London, with campuses in Cobham and Egham in Surrey, and Hillingdon. Its head offic ...

, Cobham,

McMaster University McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood, Ontario, Ainslie Wood and Westdale, Ontario, Westd ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, and

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a Private college, private drama school with two locations, one in New York City and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related ...

, New York, where she studied acting. She runs a chain of restaurants in Lagos.

Career

Ahuja runs her production company Forever 7 Entertainment and also made her filmmaking debut as a director and actress in the 2021 film ''Namaste Wahala'', a cross-cultural venture of the Nigerian film industry

and the Indian film industry,

. The project was a venture to combine elements of both Bollywood and Nollywood, which Ahuja used to create a love story between the two film industries. Ahuja is bringing to the big screen a film starring Nollywood superstar

Sola Sobowale Sola Sobowale (born 26 December 1965) is a Nigerian film actress, screenwriter, film director and film producer. Sola Sobowale had her big break in 2001, in the premiere of Nigeria's popular television drama series Super Story: ''Oh Father, O ...

, also known as "Toyin Tomato," and Samuel Perry, better known as " Broda Shaggi," in an effort to further promote the partnership between the Nollywood and Bollywood film industries. The director has promised fans that her newest project will surpass her first one, even though other information are still being kept under wraps. Ahuja's next venture ''Postcards'' was released in 2024. It follows the lives of four Nigerians who discover love, acceptance, and prosperity in India after embarking on individual journeys of self-discovery whilst conquering their fears.

Filmography

Film

TV Series

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ahuja, Hamisha Daryani Living people 1984 births Indian film actresses Indian film directors Indian film producers Indian television directors Indian television producers Indian Sindhi people Sindhi actresses Actresses in Hindi cinema Indian restaurateurs Actresses from Lagos Businesspeople from Lagos Actresses from Mumbai Businesspeople from Mumbai Film directors from Mumbai Film producers from Mumbai McMaster University alumni Indian expatriates in Nigeria American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni 21st-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian businesswomen 21st-century Indian businesspeople