From Mumbai’s Chawls to Hollywood’s Spotlight: The Grit and Grace of Harnish Ambaliya

Harnish Ambaliya didn’t dream of cinema—he survived through it

Raised in the crowded chawls of Mumbai, Harnish became his family’s primary earner by the age of 15. While balancing school, he worked at cyber cafés, electronics shops, and PR agencies—far removed from the glitter of global cinema. Studying abroad, let alone making films in America, seemed like an impossible fantasy.

But fate had its own script.

Harnish Ambaliya's rise from Mumbai Chawl to Hollywood

One spontaneous opportunity changed everything: he was asked last-minute to shoot a celebrity interview. With no experience and a borrowed DSLR, he Googled the camera settings in a bathroom stall and shot his first frame—with none other than music icon Kailash Kher.

Instead of dismissing the rookie, Kher offered him a job. That singular leap of faith launched Harnish’s creative journey. Over the next four years, he co-built Kailasa Entertainment, filming over 50 concerts across India and abroad, and discovering his authentic voice through the lens.

By 24, Harnish had risen to become Executive Producer at one of India’s top advertising agencies, spearheading national campaigns for brands like Hafele, UTI Mutual Funds, Fullerton India, and Hindustan Times. Yet a question lingered quietly: Am I truly a filmmaker—or just playing the part?

To answer it, he took the boldest risk of his life—leaving behind stability to study filmmaking at the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts, the world’s top-ranked film school. There, instinct met discipline. Harnish sharpened his visual storytelling and learned to craft emotionally resonant narratives that reflect both raw truth and lyrical beauty.

His work quickly began attracting critical attention:

🎬 In Nomine Patris – Producer Award-winning short that screened at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival

🎞️ Dead Pet Shark – Cinematographer Shot on 35mm and backed by the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, it premiered at Dances With Films – New York and is headed to LA Shorts

📺 Failure to Launch – Producer & DP A multi-cam sitcom that earned a Student Emmy nomination at the College Television Awards

Now, Harnish is stepping into his first feature film as cinematographer and co-producer for Open House—a dark romantic comedy directed by Jonah Gleeman, alongside collaborators Don John and Oliver Kiisa. The film underscores his signature style: emotionally rich, viscerally human, and visually poetic.

From the narrow alleys of Mumbai to the cinematic avenues of Los Angeles, Harnish’s story is one of grit, grace, and a deep-rooted belief that stories—when told honestly—can cross any border.

A cinematographer with a producer’s instinct and a survivor’s soul, Harnish Ambaliya represents a new generation of global filmmakers: bold, personal, and rewriting the rules of storytelling one honest frame at a time.

– Harish Sharma