Homi Adajania

Homi Adajania
Born28 February[1]
Bombay, India
Occupation(s)Film director, writer
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2002)​
FatherAspy Adajania

Homi Adajania (born 28 February) is an Indian film director and writer. He made his directorial debut with Being Cyrus (2005), an English-language psychological drama. He followed this with the commercially successful Hindi-language romantic comedy Cocktail (2012). After this Adajania directed the satire Finding Fanny.[2]

Career

Adajania entered the film industry directing and co-writing the English-language psychological drama Being Cyrus (2005) starring Saif Ali Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, and Boman Irani. The film earned critical acclaim, despite being commercially unsuccessful. Film critic Rajeev Masand called it "a stylish thriller that's told in an immensely engaging style."[3]

Adajania's second directorial venture was the Hindi-language romantic comedy Cocktail (2012). The film was written by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and produced by Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan under their banner Illuminati Films. The lead roles were played by Khan, Deepika Padukone, and debutante actress Diana Penty, while Kapadia and Boman Irani featured in supporting roles. After its three-week run, Box Office India declared the film a hit in India and abroad. It earned mixed to positive reviews from critics.

Adajania's third directorial venture, the satirical comedy Finding Fanny, was released in September 2014 in both English and Hindi. The film starred an ensemble cast including Shah, Kapadia, Pankaj Kapur, Padukone, and Arjun Kapoor. The film received mostly positive reviews, and had a steady run at the box office.

His fourth directorial project was a Hindi film, Angrezi Medium, starring Irrfan Khan, Radhika Madan and Deepak Dobriyal which released on 12 March 2020 but had a limited release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adajania's fifth directorial venture was an OTT series called Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo which stars Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, Angira Dhar and Isha Talwar which is about a matriarch in a rural village who runs a drug business with her daughter and her two daughter-in-laws. The show streamed on 5 May 2023 with positive reviews on Disney+ Hotstar.[4]

His sixth directorial venture is murder-mystery drama called Murder Mubarak which stars Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Tripathi, Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, and Tisca Chopra.[5] It is an adaptation to the best-selling novel, Club you to Death, by Anuja Chauhan .[6] The film will be streamed on Netflix in 2024.

Early life

With wife Anaita Shroff Adajania at India's 50 Best Dressed Men, 2012

Adajania was born in a Parsi family. His father, Aspy Adajania, was an Indian Army officer and a pioneer of amateur boxing in India who went on to serve as a top administrator of the sport and as a referee officiated high profile matches.[7][8] Homi lost his sister, Zia Diwan Adajania, to a stroke in 2014.[9]

Personal life

He is married to fashion stylist and the Fashion Director of Vogue India, Anaita Shroff Adajania[10] and has two children.[11][12] His sister-in-law, Scherezade Shroff - a well known YouTuber, is married to actor Vaibhav Talwar.[13]

He played in his youth for the Bombay Gymkhana rugby football team in Mumbai. He is a certified CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) dive instructor, and used to teach in the Lakshadweep islands.[11]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes
2005 Being Cyrus Yes Yes No
2012 Cocktail Yes No No
2014 Finding Fanny Yes Yes No English film
2015 My Choice Yes Yes Yes Short film[14]
2017 Raabta No No Yes
2019 The Fakir Of Venice No Story No
2020 Angrezi Medium Yes No No
2024 Murder Mubarak Yes No No Netflix Film[15]

Television

Year Title Creator Director Writer Producer Notes
2023 Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo Yes Yes Story No

References

  1. ^ Rajpal, Roktim (1 March 2023). "Sara Ali Khan shares a photo in a 'beard' as she wishes Homi Adajania on his birthday". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. ^ Mitra, Shilajit (2 May 2023). "Homi Adajania's unmade films are his best". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ Masand, Rajeev. "Masand's verdict: Being Cyrus". Rajeev Masand. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  4. ^ Whittock, Jesse (6 April 2023). "Disney+ Hotstar Sets 'Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo' From Director Homi Adajania As Latest Series Original". Deadline. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Tisca Chopra joins cast of Sara Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor starrer 'Murder Mubarak'". The Times of India. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  6. ^ Mitra, Shilajit (2 May 2023). "Homi Adajania's unmade films are his best". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  7. ^ Gupta, Priya (12 September 2014). "Homi Adajania: I was blown away with the ease with which Deepika Padukone fit into her role - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ^ "That distinct Parsi touch". The Statesman. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  9. ^ Parande, Shweta (29 October 2014). "Director Homi Adajania's sister Zia Adajania-Divan passes away | India.com". India.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  10. ^ Vijayakar, R. M. (20 July 2012). "Homi Adajania on the Fresh Look of 'Cocktail'". India-West. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b Khan, Rubina A. (11 July 2012). "Ten things you should know about Homi Adajania". FirstPost.com. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  12. ^ Jha, Nishita; Leanza, Gae Emilio (4 August 2012). "Will the real Homi please stand up?". Tehelka. 9 (31). Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Inside Scherezade Shroff's wedding with Vaibhav Talwar's wedding". Vogue India. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Misunderstanding made 'My Choice' explosively viral: Homi Adajania". The Indian Express. IANS. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Sara Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Sanjay Kapoor wrap up Homi Adajania's 'Murder Mubarak' - Pics inside". The Times of India. 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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