| Onir is an Indian filmmaker who directs, edits, writes scripts, and produces films and TV shows. He gained fame for his film 'My Brother…Nikhil,' which highlighted Indian AIDS activist Dominic d’Souza. |
| He was born in a small village in Bhutan to Bengali parents and grew up watching classic films with his movie-loving mother. |
| After moving to Kolkata, India, he studied comparative literature and attended film classes at Chitrabani Film School before pursuing further studies in Berlin on a scholarship. |
| Onir's filmmaking journey began with a documentary on leftist painter 'Bijan Choudhury' and assisting director Kalpana Lajmi on 'Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence.' |
| He drew inspiration for 'My Brother... Nikhil' from a documentary on swimmer and AIDS patient Dominic D’Souza. |
| His films 'My Brother... Nikhil' and 'I Am' won critical acclaim and national awards, while 'Bas Ek Pal' and 'Sorry Bhai!' faced challenges at the box office. |
| Onir's interests lean towards European cinema over Hollywood, and he admires directors like Ghatak, Ray, Buñuel, and Tarkovsky. |
| He has received accolades for his work on LGBT issues and co-founded Anticlock Films with Sanjay Suri to support emerging directors. |
| Apart from filmmaking, he has directed documentaries and is a proficient guitarist, language speaker, and fitness enthusiast. |
| Onir co-authored the book 'I Am Onir and I Am Gay' and is working on projects like a SonyLiv web series and a sequel to 'I Am.' |
| In his free time, Onir enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and cycling, and he occasionally indulges in alcoholic beverages. |
| He often speaks at motivational events and reflects on his journey as an openly gay Bollywood director. |
