Namrata Singh Gujral (born February 26, 1976) is an American filmmaker, motivational speaker and actor.
Namrata Singh Gujral | |
|---|---|
 Namrata Singh Gujral on the set of Americanizing Shelley | |
| Born | February 26, 1976 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Film director and producer |
Life and career
editGujral was born in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, but left India at a young age.[1] A devout Sikh by faith, she graduated in 1998 from the University of West Florida. She is a film producer, director and motivational speaker. She is also a former actress.
Gujral also serves as President of Uniglobe Entertainment, a Hollywood based studio, which focuses on socially relevant international projects for the North American market.
Gujral’s recent venture 5 Weddings, a Hollywood-Bollywood rom-com, features international stars.[2][3] Film opened theatrically in 54 countries this past October. Film delves into the lives of Hijras, a group of transgender dancers at Indian weddings, who are socially ostracized.[4]
Lifetime TV honored Gujral as one of their “Remarkable Women” making her the first Indian-American to join the ranks of other notables such as Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. The honor was awarded for WB’s 1 a Minute starring Olivia Newton-John, Melissa Etheridge, Deepak Chopra, Lisa Ray, Mumtaz, Jaclyn Smith, Barbara Mori and Billy Baldwin.
Gujral’s first production Americanizing Shelley starring Beau Bridges and Wil Wheaton was released theatrically in 24 countries with Warner Bros. Film posted higher box office averages than Angelina Jolie’s ‘Changeling’ and Brad Pitt’s ‘The Curious Life of Benjamin Button’ in various territories including Dubai and South Africa.
Health
editIn 2013, she was treated for Burkitt's lymphoma. She was treated with aggressive chemotherapy including intrathecal chemotherapy at City of Hope for six months. The cause of lymphoma was prior chemotherapy from 2008 for breast cancer. In 2013, Gujral was in remission from both cancers.[5]
In 2008, Gujral was treated for early stage, invasive breast cancer. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy.[6] She hosts Thrive! With Namrata, a panel based show with cancer survivors on the Thrive Channel.[7] She is featured in Uniglobe Entertainment's cancer docu-drama titled 1 a Minute released in 600 theaters. This is the largest release to date for a cancer-related film in cinema history. The docudrama is directed and produced by Gujral and also stars breast cancer survivors Olivia Newton-John, Diahann Carroll, Melissa Etheridge, Mumtaz, Jaclyn Smith and cancer survivors Lisa Ray, Barbara Mori and cancer treatment advocates Deepak Chopra, William Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Priya Dutt and Nancy Brinker. This marked Gujral's directorial debut.[5]
Music
editGujral made her singing debut with the single "Dancin' In The Clouds", an American country rock meets Bollywood style duet, with country star Steve Azar, currently playing on Country Music Television. The single also features on MTV and VH1. Hollywood composer Jay Ferguson of Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne fame produced the single, reportedly making her the first American artist with Eastern roots to be featured on CMT.[8]
Awards
editFor her role as Saira Ahmed on the CBS series Family Law, Gujral, along with co-stars Tony Danza and Kathleen Quinlan, were Columbia TriStar's official nomination for the 2002 Emmy Awards.
Filmography
edit- Training Day (2001)
- Dragnet (2004)
- Family Law (2001)
- Passions NBC – (2001–2005)
- The Agency CBS – (2001–2002)
- Mitsein (2009)
- House of Sand and Fog (2003)
- Kaante (2002)
- Americanizing Shelley (2007)
- 1 a Minute (2010)
- Thrive! With Namrata (2014)
- Ultimate Survivor (2015)
- You Can Thrive (2016)
- Destination Survival (2016)
- 5 Weddings (2018)
- America's Forgotten (2020)
- America's Forgotten 2 (2021)
- Finding Match (2023)
- STILL (2022)
Music videos
edit| Year | Video |
|---|---|
| 2007 | "Dancin' in the Clouds" (with Steve Azar) |
References
edit- ^ Raj Girn (2007-04-01). "Namrata Singh Gujral Carves Her Own Niche In Hollywood". ANOKHI. Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
- ^ "5 Weddings director Namrata Singh Gujral: I am proud of Rajkummar Rao's journey". The Indian Express. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ Reporter, India-West Staff. "Filmmaker Namrata Singh Gujral Wins 'Best Director' Award at DCSAFF". India West. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ "Transgender angle gave '5 Weddings' substance: Director". Zee News. 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ a b Lisa Tsering (2013-08-06). "Actress fights lymphoma Urges Community Awareness". India West. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
- ^ Service, Tribune News. "Minute details". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ "Thrive with Namrata". Thrive Channel. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
- ^ "Steve Azar & Namrata Singh Gujral "Dancin' in the Clouds"". CMT. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
External links
edit
- Platform Magazine
- Mtv.com
- Namrata Singh Gujral enlists Melissa Etheridge, Kelly McGillis, Lisa Ray for "1 a Minute" at archive.today (archived 2013-01-16)
- Namrata Singh Gujral at IMDb
- Namrata Singh Gujral on Americanizing Shelley
- American Idol: Namrata Singh Gujral at the Wayback Machine (archived May 2, 2008)