In a significant international honour, Dheeraj Akolkar, an award-winning filmmaker with roots in Pune, has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by the prestigious University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. The ceremony took place in December 2025, marking a highlight in the university's 125th-anniversary celebrations.
A Recognition for Cinema Driving Social Change
The honorary doctorate is the highest accolade the University of Birmingham bestows, reserved for individuals whose contributions have achieved regional, national, or global significance. Akolkar was recognised for his unique and impactful work in the arts, specifically for using cinema as a tool for social change.
Speaking to The Indian Express from the UK, Akolkar expressed his profound honour. He reflected that his motivation stems from seeking relevance and meaning in his work. "When one is conscious of this and understands the full potential of cinema, it is possible to achieve something truly exciting," the filmmaker stated.
His distinguished filmography includes powerful documentaries such as:
- Jyotirgamaya-Lead me to the Light (2005)
- Liv & Ingmar (2012)
- Let the Scream be Heard (2013)
- Wars Don't End (2018)
His latest project, Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled (2023), premiered at the 76th Festival de Cannes and has been acquired for distribution in 92 countries worldwide.
Pune Roots and a Legacy of Social Work
Akolkar's formative years in Pune deeply shaped his worldview. He spent his first two decades in the city, crediting it for his tremendous personal and professional development. His parents, Dr. Jyoti and Dr. Shreepad Akolkar, are medical practitioners who founded The Comprehensive Child Development Programme (CCDP), an NGO.
"My mother is a paediatrician and child psychologist, and together they identified gaps in child development and actively worked to address them," Akolkar recalled. The NGO employed art, film, books, and nature in a holistic approach to child development. Akolkar studied and volunteered with CCDP, calling it a huge influence on his life's path.
This ethos of education and empowerment was a family legacy. His maternal grandparents were teachers and school principals; his grandfather co-founded a night school in Mumbai for underprivileged children, embodying a deep belief in education as a means for social change.
Future Collaboration and Advocacy Focus
Looking ahead, Akolkar is eager to forge a productive collaboration with the University of Birmingham. The central focus of this partnership will be advocating for the rights and well-being of children born of conflict-related sexual violence across the globe.
This mission is already at the core of his ongoing work. He is currently directing a full-length feature film titled The Other Side of Silence, which amplifies the stories of such children from several postwar nations, including Norway, Germany, Bosnia, Uganda, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ukraine.
Furthermore, in 2022, Akolkar co-founded GRACE International (Global Reconciliation, Advocacy and Community-building Engagement), a UK-based charity dedicated to this very cause. "Through GRACE International, we are laying strong foundations for what comes next," he affirmed, noting steady progress on several key projects.
Akolkar also cited Mira Nair's seminal film Salaam Bombay! as a major inspiration, not just for its cinematic power but for its tangible social impact. The profits from that film established the Salaam Baalak Trust, which has rehabilitated thousands of street children. "This is a remarkable example of how filmmakers can themselves become an important resource," he said, envisioning the extraordinary possibilities when cinema is combined with strategic intention.
