Mahira Kakkar is a New York City-based actor who has worked in film, television and theater. Born in Kolkata, India, she is the first person of Indian origin to attend The Julliard School’s Drama Division. Since then she has appeared in numerous plays both in New York and around the world, and guest-starred on many television shows. In 2013 she starred in Hank and Asha, for which she won Best Actress in the Napa Valley Film Festival. She is drawn to wit, humor, physical and language-driven pieces, young adult fiction with unlikely heroines, joyous dance, outrageous fashion, the color pink, and dogs. She is proud to call both the United States and India home.
Mahira's Reel
Mahira's Resume
Off-Broadway / New York Theatre
Here We AreThank You LetterTheatre For One / Candis JonesNew York Times Critics' Pick
The HeadlandsJessLincoln Center Theatre / Knud Adams
The Resistible Rise Of Arturo UiFlake / Dock DaisyClassic Stage Company / John Doyle
Henry VI, Parts 1-3MargaretNational Asian American Theatre Company / Stephen Brown-FriedCritics' Pick- The New York Times
The St. Vincent's Project (with Kathleen Chalfant)Mary UlrichaRattlestick / Daniella Topol
The Winter's TalePaulinaTheatre For A New Audience / Arin ArbusCritics' Pick- The New York Times
Against the HillsideReemEnsemble Studio Theatre / William Carden
The Trial Of An American PresidentNarratorThe Lion Theatre / Stephen Eich
Romeo & JulietLady CapuletThe Public Theatre / Lear deBassonet
When January Feels Like SummerNirmalaEnsemble Studio Theatre / Daniella TopolCritics' Pick- The New York Times
The Ragged ClawsSafiyaCherry Lane Studio / Jedadiah Schultz
CliveWoman #2New Group / Ethan Hawke
Harper ReganJustine RossAtlantic Theatre Company / Gaye Taylor Upchurch
All's Well That Ends WellWidow / Linguist SoldierPublic Theater Shakespeare Lab / Barry Edelstein
SophistryDebbieBeckett Theatre / James Warwick
OpusGracePrimary Stages / Terry Nolen
BetrothedBibiRipe Time Theatre Company / Rachel Dickstein
Cave DwellersThe GirlPearl Theatre Company / Shepard Sobel
Miss WitherspoonMaryammaPlaywrights Horizons / Emily Mann
Television / Film
A Suitable BoyMrs. Rupa MehraMira Nair
New AmsterdamMrs. LaghariMichael Slovis
Orange Is The New BlackRecurringAndrew McCarthy
Friends From CollegeCo-starAndrew Garland
Bite MeSupporting leadMeredith Edwards
Odd Mom Out ("Brooklandia")Co-starJeff Melman
Louie ("A La Carte")Co-starLouis C.K.
The Blacklist ("Luther Braxton (No. 21): Conclusion")Co-starMichael Watkins
HechkiLeadKartik SinghAudience Favorite Award-River to River Florence Film Festival 2014
Oil and VinegarSupportingBrad Binning
The Life Of PiV oiceoverAng Lee
Blue BloodsRecurringStephen Gyllenhaal
Hank And AshaAsha (Lead)James E. DuffBronzeLens Award- BronzeLens Film Festival Audience Favorite Best Actress Award – Napa Valley Film Festival Audience Favorite Film Award – Slamdance Film Festival Best Actress Award- Wild Rose Film Festival
The Big CCo-starCraig Zisk
Law & Order: Criminal IntentGuest StarSteve Shill
Gareeb Nawaz’s TaxiSupportingRitesh Batra
A Night In The HillLeadMatthew Weiss
Regional Theatre
The Importance Of Being EarnestGwendolenCape Playhouse / Matt Lenz
SkylightKiraMcCarter Theatre / Emily Mann
The Importance Of Being EarnestMiss PrismTwo River / Michael Cumpsty
Monsoon WeddingPimmiBerkeley Repertory Theatre / Mira Nair
A Comedy Of ErrorsLucianaHartford Stage / Darko Tresnjak
The Monsoon Wedding musical has been extended to July 9! See the Berkeley Rep website for more details.
Watch Mahira’s scene in Season 5 of “Louie”
Mahira was really excited to work with Louis C.K. on his show Louie. Her scene is on Louie C.K.’s official YouTube channel. Check it out!
Watch the entire short film “Hechki”
Kartik Singh, writer and director of “Hechki” has posted the short film on his YouTube channel. It’s a beautiful, fun film and I was delighted to work with him. Click here to see Mahira in “Hechki.”
Movies and Films Likes Hank & Asha
The industry podcast Movies and Films reviewed Hank and Asha, calling it “a very sweet love story.” And:
Mahira Kakkar plays Asha and she is wonderful. She has such a beautiful energy to her and she is just delightful. You can’t take your eyes off her.
Hank and Asha received a glowing review from the LA Times:
… the beguiling lead performances are what ultimately make “Hank and Asha” such a watchable little adventure. Like the film itself, Kakkar and Pastides are lively, adorable and thoroughly winning.
Chad Nance, writing for Winston-Salem’s River Run Review saw Hank And Asha. and loved it. He had some very kind things to say about Andrew Pastide, my co-star, and about me as well:
Mahira Kakkar as Asha is, in a word, adorable. Her performance is truthful, fleshed out and filled with a true joy that is never “bubbly” or vapid, but comes from a sincere depth and strength of character.