An accomplished Indian-American film director, writer, and producer, Mira Nair has won a number of awards, including a National Film Award and various international film festival awards. In 1988, her debut film, "Salaam Bombay!" received an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and won the Golden Camera Award and the Prix du Publique for most popular entry at the Cannes Film Festival. Nair was born and resided in India until age 19, when she left for the U.S. to attend Harvard University. After college, Nair moved toward making documentary films in which she directed four documentaries, one of which won an award at the American Film Festival in 1986. After her groundbreaking film, "Salaam Bombay," Nair went on to produce a number of popular films. Some of these titles include, "Mississipi Masala," "Monsoon Wedding," "Vanity Fair," "The Namesake," and "New York, I Love You." In 1995, her film "Mississipi Masala" starring Denzel Washington, won three awards at the Venice Film Festival including Best Screenplay and The Audience Choice Award. In 2001, Nair produced and directed "Monsoon Wedding," about a chaotic Punjabi Indian wedding, which was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. In 2007, she was given the India Abroad Person of the Year Award. Nair founded and runs her production company Mirabai Films.