Ismail Merchant (25 December 1936 – 25 May 2005) was an Indian-born film producer and director. He worked for many years in collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included director (and Merchant's longtime professional and domestic partner) James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Their films won six Academy Awards.
Ismail Merchant was Indian born and always knew he wanted to be a producer and director of great films, and never tried to hide his partnership in both life and business, Director James Ivory.