Directing

Neal Suresh Mulani

Raised in the suburbs of Boston, Neal Suresh Mulani is an emerging writer-director whose work draws deeply from his own life as a queer individual navigating dual cultural identities. With a father from Mumbai and a mother from Boston, Mulani spent his childhood at the intersection of two worlds—a tension he turned to filmmaking to articulate. His early love for theater gave him a foundational understanding of character, story, and improvisation, which now informs his cinematic voice. His films explore themes of shame, self-image, masculinity, and parenthood through a queer lens.

A recent graduate of USC’s Film & TV Production program, Mulani has gained industry experience at companies including Cinetic Media, Lionsgate, and Plan B Entertainment. He currently serves as an assistant to the Chairman of Universal. His debut short film, *Fish Tank*, premiered in competition at IFFBoston and later traveled to international festivals. His follow-up, *From the Top*, made its world premiere this summer at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, marking another milestone in his rapidly growing career.

Read more