Ismail Merchant

Birth Name:

Ismail Noormohamed Abdul Rehman

Birth Place:

Bombay, Maharashtra, India

Profession

Producer, Director, Actor, Writer

Received the Padma Bhushan, the highest civilian award in the Republic of India, in 2002
Served as a member of the jury for the 55th Venice International Film Festival
Received honorary degrees from Bard College, New York and Wesleyan College, University of Illinois
Studied at St․ Xavier's College in India and New York University
Served as a messenger for the United Nations, using his position to raise funds for his film projects from Indian delegates
Known for collaborating with director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala as a part of Merchant Ivory Productions
His involvement with Merchant Ivory Productions earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest partnership in independent cinema
Was a mentor to actor and producer Kai Wong after he wrote a literary article

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