This ordinary Mumbaikar lad – Harnish Ambaliya didn’t grow up dreaming of cinema — he grew up surviving it.
Raised in the densely packed chawls of Mumbai, Harnish became his family’s breadwinner by the age of 15. He juggled school with odd jobs at cyber cafés, electronic stores, and PR firms.
Today, Harnish Ambaliya’s works as producer and cinematographer are internationally known for emotionally resonant storytelling and a visually grounded style inspired by real human experience.
Learnt DSLR camera basics by Google help during a break
The idea of studying abroad — let alone making films in America — felt like pure fantasy. But an unexpected twist of fate changed everything: a last-minute request to shoot a celebrity interview led him to borrow a DSLR he didn’t know how to use, he Googled the settings while in a bathroom and successfully managed to shoot his first frame — with that of Indian music legend Kailash Kher.
Instead of laughing him off, Kher offered him a job the next day. That single act of faith launched Harnish’s creative journey. Over the next four years, he helped build Kailasa Entertainment, traveling across India and the globe, filming over 50 live concerts, and discovering his voice behind the lens.
Leading national campaigns for multi-nationals
By 24, Harnish had become Executive Producer at one of India’s top advertising firms, where he led national campaigns for clients such as Hafele, Future Group, UTI Mutual Funds, Fullerton India, and Hindustan Times.
But despite his professional success, a quiet doubt lingered in his mind: Was he really a filmmaker?
To answer that, he made the biggest leap of his life — leaving a stable career to study filmmaking at the world-renowned USC School of Cinematic Arts, the #1 ranked film school globally. At USC, Harnish’s intuitive sense of story collided with world-class training. He refined his eye, expanded his voice, and emerged as a filmmaker who blends poetic visuals with grounded emotional honesty.
His student and professional work quickly began earning international critical recognition:
– Producer of the award-winning short In Nomine Patris, which screened at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival
– Cinematographer of Dead Pet Shark, shot on 35mm and supported by the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, which premiered at Dances With Films – New York and is slated to screen at LA Shorts International Film Festival
– Producer & DP of Failure to Launch, a multi-cam sitcom that earned a Student Emmy nomination (College Television Awards)
His work often explores themes of resilience, identity, and transformation-deeply shaped by his upbringing in the slums of Mumbai.
Currently, Harnish is making his feature film debut as both cinematographer and producer on the dark romantic comedy Open House, directed by Jonah Gleeman and co-produced alongside long-time collaborators Don John and Oliver Kiisa. Open House continues Harnish’s commitment to telling stories that are emotionally complex, deeply human, and visually lyrical.
His work bridges worlds — from the chawls of Mumbai to the soundstages of Los Angeles. He is a cinematographer with a producer’s brain, and a storyteller with a survivor’s soul. Every frame he shoots carries the urgency of someone who wasn’t supposed to make it here, and the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly why he did.
Harnish Ambaliya is part of a new wave of global filmmakers — bold, self-made, and deeply personal — shaping the future of cinema one honest story at a time.
– PARESH B. MEHTA
