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 a producer and director who's partner in life was director James Ivory, and they worked constantly to avoid the sadness of their inability to have children of their own. 