Today we’d like to introduce you to Ankita M. Kumar.
Hi Ankita, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a competitive, conservative and academic family. My dad studied Polymer Science Engineering at the prestigious Institute of Technology, Delhi and my brother ended up heading there as well for his BTech in Electrical Engineering. I stood out as a sore thumb as I was interested in the creative arts – and in a society like India where social mobility is hard unless you become a doctor or an engineer, I was constantly questioned for my choices. But I was a rebel who never listened to anyone, except my heart, so I headed to Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) for my undergraduate degree in 2010. At LSR, I found my calling in the study of history and politics and that shaped my career choices.
Even though I grew up mostly in India, I had a very international upbringing. My parents relocated to Toronto, Canada when I was 7 and in Toronto I felt like I was coming into my own – before my parents decided to move back to India a few years later – and I landed up in middle school in a place that again felt very alien to me. But this constant flow of displacement has shaped me and my storytelling and got me into journalism, before filmmaking.
I started my career in journalism in 2016. Journalism was a conscious choice for me, as I loved to write, but didn’t want to engage with academic writing, after having completed a rather intense graduate degree at the London School of Economics (LSE). I dabbled in several departments in journalism – from the online desk, to social media and even product management. But I always saw myself as an entrepreneur – someone who can bring stories to life that are typically not covered by mainstream media. But it took me some time to figure out the right medium for my stories. In 2021, I went back to grad school – this time to get a journalism degree. At Northwestern, I met Brent E. Huffman, who taught me documentary filmmaking and his class piqued my interest in documentaries. His class led me to pursue my interest in entrepreneurship through the lens of the camera and that’s how I got into films (and filmmaking).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a difficult journey to get here. As women, we often question our choices and our decisions. The biggest struggle for me has been overcoming imposter syndrome and believing in my ability to tell stories in a unique way. There were also institutional barriers in getting to where I am today. I grew up in a middle-class family in India (and Canada), and I’m the first woman from my family to work. My grandparents were refugees, so I was handed down a difficult package of inter-generational trauma that I’m still processing till date.
I am also a member of the LGBTQ+ community and that brings with it its own unique challenges, as my culture is not very accepting of this identity. And now, a big struggle is coming to terms with my identity as a brown immigrant in the US. But I carry all of these identities with pride. I am proud of myself and for navigating these challenges and figuring it out. My grandmother couldn’t even complete school as she became a refugee at the age of 9, and her granddaughter has two Masters degrees – one from the UK and one from the US! I am grateful for the sacrifices of my ancestors and I hope to reduce the obstacles for my next generation.
And of course, there’s always the perpetual struggle of getting people to believe in your storytelling skills and investing in you! But I feel I have become more vocal along the way and I’m not scared to stand up for what I believe in. So that has definitely helped in navigating any roadblocks.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Akiray Pictures is my production house. We specialize in telling stories you won’t see anywhere else. The core focus areas are diverse and unique – refugees, migration and culture. As of now, there are three important projects under Akiray. The first one is a completed project – Far from Home, a short documentary on Afghan refugees in India. In fact, Far from Home is now on an Oscar run – we have screenings coming up in LA on November 22 and at the National Press Club in DC on December 3!
The second project is a feature documentary, Divinity, that is the story of Aishwarya and Saundarya, who are Indian classical singers and are trying to sonically change their art form. The third project is in post production – it’s a feature documentary on a Syrian-Armenian artist.
I pick projects for Akiray very carefully, as it has to align with our mission. The goal is to tell stories of real people, cinematically – and bring forth to people very personal stories, told with care and perfection. Akiray is also a women-led company and I love the fact that I’m telling stories of women by women. It’s time we reclaim our stories!
I want readers to know that we are a production company that’s open to new projects and I’m happy to collaborate! Find out more about us at akiraypictures.com.
What were you like growing up?
I was a very awkward and nervous child, as I didn’t receive much love or support at home. I was expected to hit the ground running with everything, as I was held to extremely high standards of perfection. I grew up with a younger brother who was good at everything – so I was constantly compared to him. This meant I struggled with many things – from making friends to fitting in. I had to learn to navigate many things on my own, as I wasn’t supported at home when I struggled in school. To be honest, I didn’t quite enjoy school. I was always the ‘weirdo’ – the one who had interests that were different from everyone. I wasn’t good at sports, nor STEM subjects (which you need to be good at in India to be considered a “good kid”.) The only talent I had was that I was a good singer (music held me in good stead). But being different meant I was bullied – sometimes rather intensely by my peers.
But I feel college really changed things for me. Getting away from home meant I could find myself and I finally found a space where I could come of age. I really enjoyed college and it was the first place where I was known as a talented individual. It really changed my life – for the better.
I feel I am still growing up! Till about 2 years ago, I was still unsure about myself and what I stand for. But I feel in my 30s I have really come to appreciate myself. I am actually interested in a lot of things – I love sports, I love going to the gym, meeting new people, learning new musical instruments, reading books and in general, challenging myself. I am a lifelong learner and I think I have grown into an individual who I love intensely and guilelessly. I am now giving myself the love I always deserved and that makes me very happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.akiraypictures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diariesofajourno/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitamkumar/
- Twitter: https://x.com/muk_ankita
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/LykapSY4aAI
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16236461/
Image Credits
Sahiba Chawdhary (for the pic of the Afghan refugees taking a selfie in India during the festival)
