Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Proprietor, POOR-BOX PRODUCTIONS
India
Mahabanoo was chosen by Femina Magazine as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in India in 2007. Human rights activist and author Zerbanoo Gifford, in her book Secrets of the World’s Inspirational Women, has featured Mahabanoo as one of the 200 Most Inspirational Women from around the World.
Mahabanoo is trained as a microbiologist and geologist, but in her adult life took up her first passion – performance. She is an actor, director and producer in film, television, theatre and radio with over 60 credits to her name in India and abroad. She is also a social justice advocate working diligently in the arenas of women’s empowerment and trying to end violence against women globally. In 2018 she received the inaugural H.E.R. Award for her commitment to women’s empowerment. In the same year she also was honored with the inaugural W.O.W. (Women of Wonder) Award for exemplary women achievers in various fields. In 2011 she received the prestigious Karmaveer Puraskar for her work towards social justice and ending violence for women and children. Mahabanoo is also the co-founder of The Make-A –Difference Foundation which raises funds and awareness to combat violence against women and children. The foundation has worked hard to end violence against women and girls with a variety of projects and programmes in urban school and colleges alongside economically disenfranchised women in the “bastis” of Mumbai.