Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Dheeraj Akolkar Receives Honorary Doctorate from Birmingham
Dheeraj Akolkar is a filmmaker who was born in Pune, India, and now lives in the UK.
He recently received a special award called an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham.
This award is given to people who have done amazing things in their field.
Dheeraj makes movies that help make the world a better place.
Some of his movies are about important social issues.
He also started a charity called GRACE International that helps children who have been affected by war.
Dheeraj was inspired by his parents, who are doctors and run an NGO that helps children.
He is currently working on a new movie about children born during conflicts.
He believes that movies can be a powerful tool for change.
Dheeraj Akolkar, a UK-based filmmaker from Pune, India, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham.
His work focuses on using cinema for social change, with notable films like Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled.
Akolkar's latest film premiered at the 76th Festival de Cannes and is distributed in 92 countries.
He co-founded GRACE International, a charity advocating for children born of conflict-related sexual violence.
Akolkar is currently directing a feature film, The Other Side of Silence, on the same topic.
- Who
- Dheeraj Akolkar, a UK-based filmmaker from Pune, India
- What
- Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham
- When
- In the 125th anniversary year of the University of Birmingham
- Where
- University of Birmingham, UK
- Why
- For his significant contributions to cinema and social change
- Name
- Dheeraj Akolkar
- Occupation
- Filmmaker
- Hometown
- Pune, India
- Award
- Honorary Doctorate from University of Birmingham
- Notable Works
- Jyotirgamaya-Lead me to the Light, Liv & Ingmar, Let the Scream be Heard, Wars Don’t End, Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled
- Charity
- GRACE International
- Current Project
- The Other Side of Silence