Vikram Gandhi

Vikram Gandhi
Gandhi in 2012
Born
New York City, U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • journalist
  • actor
  • producer

Vikram Gandhi is an Indian American documentary filmmaker, producer, actor, and journalist. His works include Kumaré (2011), Barry (2016), Trigger Warning with Killer Mike (2019), 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez (2020).

Biography

Gandhi was born in New York and grew up in a Hindu household in New Jersey.[1] His parents are Punjabi immigrants from Burma and his father works at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He received his B.A. from Columbia University in 2000.[2]

After college, Gandhi worked as a freelance video journalist and reported on political, economic and human rights issues in Asia for The Economist, Time, ABC and CNN. He also worked as a cinematographer and producer of documentary films and commercials, and his clients included American Express, Energizer, Yahoo and Katy Perry.[3]

As a documentary filmmaker, Gandhi covered the emergence of the yoga industry in the US and, inspired by his own skepticism about religious movements, he started his own fake spiritual movement and called himself "Kumare," which is based on his middle name, Kumar.[1][4] Impersonating a fake Indian guru, he gained a following in Arizona.[5] He filmed his interactions with his devotees and made the 2011 documentary Kumare, which won the SXSW 2011 Audience Award for Best Documentary and was nominated for a 2011 DOC NYC Viewfinders Grand Jury Prize and a 2013 Cinema Eye Audience Choice Prize.[6][7]

Vikram joined HBO's Vice as a producer and correspondent in 2012.[7][8] In 2016, he directed and produced the Barack Obama biopic Barry, which he describes as a "superhero origin story".[9][10] He also appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as himself.[11] He later produced and directed the Netflix series Trigger Warning with Killer Mike and Grass Is Greener.[12]

In 2020, Gandhi reprised his role as Kumare for the comedy series The Guru Inside You that aired on First Look Media's streaming service Topic.[13] He also directed the Hulu documentary 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez.[14]

Gandhi directed and executive produced alongside Jehane Noujaim, The Man Will Burn, a four-part documentary series revolving around Burning Man.[15] It had its world premiere at Tribeca Festival on June 9, 2026.[16] and premiered on July 9, 2026, on HBO.[17]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Notes
2011 Kumaré Yes Yes Yes Yes Documentary; also appeared as himself / Kumare
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice No No No Yes Cameo as himself
2016 Barry Yes Yes No No
2019 Grass Is Greener Yes Yes No No Netflix documentary
2020 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez Yes No No No Hulu documentary

Television

Year Title Director Producer Role Notes
2012–present Vice No Yes Yes Plays Correspondent

HBO series

2019 Trigger Warning with Killer Mike Yes Yes No Netflix series
2020 The Guru Inside You No No Yes Plays Kumare

Topic comedy series; reprised role

2026 The Man Will Burn Yes Yes No 4-part documentary series; co-directed with Jehane Noujaim

References

  1. 1 2 Shattuck, Interview by Kathryn (June 1, 2012). "Vikram Gandhi's Documentary 'Kumaré'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Alumni in the News". Columbia College Today. January 5, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ "How to Create a Cult". In These Times. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  4. ↑ "False Guru". NPR.org. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Watt, Nick; Shulman, Scott (August 10, 2012). "'Kumare': Fake Guru Exposes Real, Desperate Desire to Believe". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ Melwani, Lavina (June 30, 2012). "Placebo for the soul?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Director Vikram Gandhi Joins Bullitt For Branded Content". SHOOTonline. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Watch Host Vikram Gandhi Debrief Our VICE on HBO Episode 'Right to Die'". Vice.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Solomon, Dan (December 16, 2016). ""Barry" Director Vikram Gandhi On Why His Obama Biopic Is Like A Superhero Origin Tale". Fast Company. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ Macaulay, Scott (September 9, 2016). "TIFF 2016: Five Questions for Barry Director Vikram Gandhi". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ "'Batman v Superman': 8 Real Media Stars Who Reported From Gotham and Metropolis". March 26, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ Gandhi, Vikram (November 23, 2020). "What I learned from making a documentary about Tekashi 6ix9ine". NME. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Vikram Gandhi Reprises Kumaré Character for Comedy Series 'The Guru Inside You' at Topic (Exclusive)". June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez review – Tekashi69, fame-hungry narcissist, unwrapped". the Guardian. June 10, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  15. ↑ White, Peter (September 8, 2023). "Burning Man Docuseries In The Works; Project Includes Crazy Scenes Of Rain Chaos & 30 Years Of Archive". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  16. ↑ Jacob, Arushi (April 21, 2026). "Tribeca Festival Announces 2026 TV and Podcast Lineup, Spotlighting 'Survivor 50' Panel". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ "HBO Original Documentary Series THE MAN WILL BURN Debuts July 9". Warner Bros. Discovery. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
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