Nandana Sen is an Indian-born American actor, children’s rights activist, author, producer and scriptwriter. She has appeared in many famous Hollywood and Bollywood films such as Black (2005), Civil War (2005) and Rang Rasiya (2008). Nandana is the daughter of Amartya Sen, the famous Indian economist and Bharatna Prize winner.
Wiki/Biography
Nandana Dev Sen was born on Saturday, August 19, 1967, in New Delhi, India (56 years; as of 2023). Her zodiac sign is Leo. Nandana lived in Delhi and London for several years as a child. After her parents separated, she moved to Calcutta with her mother at the age of six. Sen completed his education in Calcutta. Although she attended an English school, she prefers Bengali as her primary language and enjoys reading classic Bengali literature.
Nandana’s teenage photos
After completing her studies, she moved to the United States (USA) to pursue higher education. There she earned a BA in English Literature and Arts. Later, she was admitted to Harvard University and received a master’s degree in English literature. In an interview, she discussed her reasons for moving to the United States, saying:
I didn’t want to choose a country that we had been colonized. I want to choose a country where I have no resentment. That’s how I ended up in America. I really enjoyed being at Harvard, I loved studying literature, I loved studying with great writers like Seamus Heaney and Toni Morrison, [taking] Taking a film class with Spike Lee was great. This couldn’t be more interesting. “
In her first year at Harvard University, Nandana ranked first in her class and won the Detur Award. She subsequently received the John Harvard Scholarship and the Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Award for Academic Achievement, its highest honor. During her junior year, she was elected to the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Nandana poses for photos at graduation ceremony
After graduation, Nandana attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, California, where she took filmmaking courses under the Peter Stark Producing Program and directed a number of short films, including her last project, the film Taken “Marriage” has been screened at many international film festivals. She later took acting courses at the Lee Strasberg School of Theater and Film in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She also earned a Ph.D.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 5″
Weight (approximately): 65kg
Hair color: black
Eye color: dark brown
Body measurements (approximately): 36-32-34
family
Nandana Sen belongs to a family of Bengali award winners.
Parents and siblings
Her father Amartya Sen is a famous economist and philosopher.
Nandana pictured with Amartya Sen
Her mother Nabaneeta Dev is an Indian writer and academician. She died in 2019. Amartya and Nabanita divorced when Nanadana was six years old. Her sister Antara Dev Sen is a journalist in New Delhi.
Nandana Sen with her mother and sister
husband and children
Her husband, John McKinson, is chairman of Penguin Random House. They met for the first time at a literary event in Jaipur. She married him in June 2013. In 2018, the couple adopted Meghla Devsen Makinson, a four-year-old Bangladeshi girl.
Nandana Sen walks with daughter and husband
other relatives
Her maternal grandmother Radharani Devi (late) was a famous Bengali poet.
Nandana’s photo with her grandmother
Relationships/Affairs
Nanadana Sen was reportedly in a relationship with film producer Madhu Mantena from 2002 to 2012. According to sources, Madhu proposed to her in 2011.
Photos of Madhu Mantena
religion
Nandana Sen believes in Hinduism.
Nanadana Sen’s Instagram posts
Signature/Autograph
Signed by Nandana Sen
Profession
writing
After earning her master’s degree at Harvard University, Nanadana Sen found a job at Ms Magazine, a New York-based feminist magazine. However, she turned down an invitation to work with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, an education company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There she served as editor and edited numerous books, including Shakespeare on the River and The Best American Essays. Nandana is the author of numerous books, including Kangaroo Kisses (2016), Talky Tumble of Jumble Farm (2017), Not Yet! (2017), The Flying Monkey (2018) ), In My Mind (2019), Youth Shock (an adult book selection), Make Up Your Mind (a collection of translated Bengali poems by Nabanita Dev Sen), and Acrobat.
Photos taken by Nandana Sen at book launch
Acting, Producing and Scriptwriting
Nanadana Sen made her Bollywood debut with the 1997 film Gudia, in which she played the role of Rosemary Braganza/Urva The role of Urvashi. Nandana spoke about her first film in an interview and said that she initially turned down the offer to star in the film as she wanted to assist the director in helming the film. She also added that the director agreed to her request, but there was one condition, and that was whether she could play the leading role in the film. She said of this incident:
During my studies, I was inadvertently cast in Gudia by Goutam Ghose. I wanted to assist him, but I was shocked when he said he wanted me to play the lead role. He said, “If you agree to be my heroine, I will let you assist me.” I also made my film debut. ” 
In 1999, she had roles in two films, the Italian film Branchie and the Canadian film Forever. She played the role of Maria in the 2000 Canadian English-language drama film Seduction of Maria. She also served as an associate producer on the film.
Stills from Nandana Sen’s movie “Seduction of Maria”
That same year, she wrote the screenplay for the short film “Forever”; she was also a producer on the film. In 2005, she played the role of Duri Choudhury in the Hollywood film Civil War, Reena Wadhwa in the Bollywood film My Wife’s Murder, and Shyamoli in the Bollywood film Tango Charlie. She rose to fame in India in 2005 when she played the role of Sarah McNally (the sister of Rani Mukerji’s character) in the Bollywood film Black.
Nandana Sen and Rani Mukerji in a still from the movie Black
In 2006, she played Remat in the British film The Invisible World. In 2008, she starred in the Hindi film Rang Rasiya with Randeep Hooda; she played the role of Sugandha in the film.
Nandana and Randeep in stills from the movie Rang Rasiya
In 2010, she starred in two Hindi films “Prince” and “Jhootha Hi Sahi” and a Bengali film “Autograph”. She played Radha in the 2012 bilingual film “The Forest”.
social activism
Apart from writing books and starring in films, Nanadana Sen is also involved in children’s activities. While studying in Kolkata, Sen collected food and clothing for poor and marginalized children. At Harvard, she participated in numerous anti-domestic abuse and pro-life marches. She served as Child Protection Ambassador for Save the Children India. Later, she worked with many organizations involved in children’s activities such as UNICEF, RAHI (India’s first organization for survivors of child sexual abuse) and Apne Aap (aimed at preventing intergenerational prostitution). Sen has served as a child rights panel expert and a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) juror.
A collage of photos taken by Nandana Sen at various social event events
dispute
Accused of inappropriate behavior during filming
In 2006, during the shooting of the film Rockin Meera!, Nandana was accused of misbehaving on the set. However, Nandana refuted the claims and claimed that she was not performing well on the sets of the film and therefore abandoned the shoot and returned to Los Angeles from India. She further claimed that film producer Param Gill was impressed with her acting skills. In an interview, she spoke about the incident and said:
I was confused because not a single fact about my involvement in Rockin Meera was true! Clearly, the reporter’s sources were completely unreliable. I don’t want to discuss why I didn’t make this movie because it was unpleasant. The behavior of one of the key people involved in this film was extremely unprofessional. His behavior was extremely inappropriate, violated all professional and personal ethics laws, and made me feel deeply uncomfortable. “
Awards
- In 2022, she won the Wingword Poetry Prize.
- In 2019, she received the Last Girl Champion Award from Apne Aap.
- In 2015, Nana Dana won the Karaka Award for Best Actress.
- She won the Reliance BIG Bangla Rising Star Award and the TeleCine Award for Best Actress for the 2010 Bengali film Autograph.
Facts/Trivia
- Her name is also Toompa Sen.
- Nanadana Sen is an avid animal lover. She owns a pet cat named Lekhika.
Nandana Sen and her pet cat Lekhika
- Nandana Sen is a travel enthusiast (very fond of traveling now) and has visited many countries including China, Egypt and Africa.
- In 2015, she appeared on the cover of a health magazine called FHM Active.
Nandana Sen on the cover of FHM Active
- Nandana Sen is passionate about cycling, reading and dancing.
- She has been a panelist at the Jaipur Literature Festival.
- Nanadana Sen is a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. She frequently participated in marches organized in support of American communities.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education