Lolita Chakrabarti was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, to Bengali Hindu parents from India in 1969.
[1] She was educated at the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus in Birmingham before moving to London, after being accepted for entry to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
[3] Her theatre credits include Fanny and Alexander for The Old Vic (2018), Gertrude in Hamlet starring Tom Hiddleston and directed by Kenneth Branagh for RADA (2017), The Great Game: Afghanistan for the Tricycle Theatre (2009), Last Seen for the Almeida (2009) (which she co-wrote), Free Outgoing for the Royal Court (2008), John Gabriel Borkman for the Donmar Warehouse (2007), and The Hunt for St. Ann's Warehouse (2024).
[7][8] The season was relaunched online during the pandemic in 2020, with a new monologue written by Booker prize winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo.
She adapted Italo Calvino's 1972 novel Invisible Cities, in collaboration with 59 Productions, Rambert Dance Company, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
[citation needed] Chakrabarti's adaptation of Life of Pi, based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel, premiered at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in June 2019.
After its sold-out Stratford engagement closing on June 17, 2023, the show transferred to the West End's Garrick Theatre.
[citation needed] Chakrabarti and Maggiora were nominated for the Best Producer Award at the Underwire Film Festival, London, 2011.
[16] She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to drama.