Randy603804187 at 00:17, 19 February 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Being Cyrus
| image = BeingCyrus.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Homi Adajania]]
| writer = Homi Adajania
| producer = Homi Adajania [[Dinesh Vijan]] Ambika Hinduja [[Vineet Jain]] AP. Pairagi
| starring = [[Saif Ali Khan]] [[Naseeruddin Shah]] [[Dimple Kapadia]] [[Boman Irani]] [[Simone Singh]]
| cinematography = [[:en:Jehangir_Choudhary|Jehangir Choudhary]]
| music = [[Salim–Sulaiman]]
| editing = [[Jon Harris (director)|Jon Harris]]
| studio = Miracle Cinefilms Serendipity Films [[Junglee Pictures|Times Infotainment Media Limited]]
| distributor = [[PVR Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2005|11|08|Lyon Asiexpo Film Festival|2006|03|24|India}}
| country = India
| runtime = 83 minutes
| language = English
| budget = {{INR}}40 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=281|title=Being Cyrus - Movie - Box Office India}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR}}46 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beingcyrus.htm|title = Being Cyrus}}</ref>
}}
'''''Being Cyrus''''' is a 2005 Indian English-language [[dark comedy film]] directed by [[Homi Adajania]]. The film revolves around a dysfunctional [[Parsi]] family. The film was originally titled ''[[Akuri|Akoori]]'', a reference to a traditional Parsi scrambled eggs-like side dish. The film is the directorial debut of Homi Adajania and [[Saif Ali Khan]]'s first film in English. Upon its release, the film was reported to be released in a Hindi dubbed version in 2007, however, the director cancelled the plan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-being-cyrus-in-hindi-never-1078564 |title='Being Cyrus' in Hindi? Never |last=Ruhani |first=Faheem |date=7 February 2007 |publisher=[[DNA India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101121319/https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-being-cyrus-in-hindi-never-1078564|archive-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The plot is sometimes narrated from the perspective of Cyrus Mistry.

Dinshaw Sethna is a retired [[Sculpture|sculptor]] who lives with his wife Katy in [[Panchgani]]. Dinshaw's brother Farrokh, their father Fardoonjee, and Farrokh's wife Tina reside in Mumbai.

Cyrus Mistry, a wanderer hailing from [[Jamshedpur]], arrives at Dinshaw's house one morning. He professes his admiration for Dinshaw's work and asks if he can become a sculpting apprentice. Dinshaw and Katy agree, and soon the young man becomes a part of their life. Katy makes sexual advances towards Cyrus, which he tolerates, while cryptically telling the audience that he is "playing Katy". As time passes Cyrus gets to know the oddball couple better – Dinshaw is an affable, perpetually zoned-out eccentric, while the [[Promiscuity|promiscuous]] Katy, tired of slow-moving Panchgani life and her marriage, has embarked on an affair with her brother-in-law Farrokh in [[Mumbai]]. Katy makes Cyrus her pawn, sending him to Mumbai to visit her father-in-law Fardoonjee, who lives in an extension of Farrokh's flat, with orders to get a stash of money Fardoonjee supposedly has. On meeting Fardoonjee, Cyrus realizes that he is ill-treated by Farrokh. Farrokh's timid young wife, Tina, is unable to be herself except during the few hours Farrokh is at work. She enjoys smoking, loud music and goes to beauty appointments when Farrokh is gone.

Katy convinces Cyrus to murder both Fardoonjee and Tina, so that she can be with Farrokh. Unknown to Cyrus, Farrokh plans to kill him after the deed to close the loose end. Cyrus arrives at a time when Tina is coincidentally out for a waxing appointment. He meets with Fardoonjee and feeds him his favorite food before stabbing him to death immediately afterwards. Cyrus implies to the audience that he actually [[Euthanasia|mercy killed]] Fardoonjee, to release him from his wretched life. Farrokh sneaks into the house but Cyrus kills him first. When Katy calls to check on Farrokh, Cyrus picks up the phone and tells her that her plan has failed. Cyrus then vanishes.

Katy and Dinshaw are taken by the police for interrogation. She constantly blames Cyrus for the murders, but the police find no evidence of any person named Cyrus existing in Panchgani. Katy and Dinshaw are arrested for the murders, while Tina is sent home after being told that she was lucky to be away at that time.

A few months later, Tina is in her apartment when Cyrus arrives. Apparently, he has come to finish the last murder. Instead, the pair embrace and it is revealed that they are actually [[siblings]] and Cyrus's actual name is revealed to be Xerxes. The murders are shown to be an elaborate plot concocted by Tina to inherit the Sethna property. With Fardoonjee and Farrokh dead, and Katy and Dinshaw incarcerated, the plan has succeeded. While Tina is showering, Cyrus sees a newspaper where Tina has marked another prominent, wealthy family for this scheme. Unwilling to participate in this murderous scheme any further, Cyrus flees with their stolen money, leaving Tina alone.

== Cast ==
* [[Saif Ali Khan]] as Cyrus Mistry / Xerxes
* [[Naseeruddin Shah]] as Dinshaw Sethna
* [[Dimple Kapadia]] as Katy Sethna
* [[Boman Irani]] as Farrokh Sethna
* [[Simone Singh]] as Tina Sethna
* [[Honey Chhaya]] as Fardoonjee Sethna
* [[Manoj Pahwa]] as Inspector Maninder Singh Lovely

== Awards ==
At the [[52nd Filmfare Awards]] held in 2007, ''Being Cyrus'' received 7 nominations, all in the technical categories. This was the most number of nominations for a film that did not win any awards. At the [[2nd Global Indian Film Awards]], the film received 3 nominations; 2 for Adajania and 1 for Kapadia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards Category : GIFA 2006 Nominees|url=http://www.mygifa.com/awards-category.html|publisher=Global Indian Film Awards|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233921/http://www.mygifa.com/awards-category.html|archivedate=27 September 2007}}</ref>

== Reception ==
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. [[Rajeev Masand]] rated the film 3 out of 5, praising the performances and story.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rajeevmasand.com/uncategorized/masands-verdict-being-cyrus/ |title=Masand's verdict: Being Cyrus |last=Masand |first=Rajeev |date=2006 |publisher=[[Rajeev Masand]]'s official page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205074754/http://www.rajeevmasand.com/uncategorized/masands-verdict-being-cyrus/ |archive-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film 3.5 out of 5.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/being-cyrus/movie-review/1772785.cms |title=Being Cyrus Movie Review |date=30 March 2016 |newspaper=The Times of India | accessdate=8 October 2018}}</ref> [[Anupama Chopra]] from ''[[India Today]]'' termed the film as a "competent, well-crafted debut."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20060410-movie-review-of-being-cyrus-starring-naseeruddin-shah-saif-ali-khan-boman-irani-785692-2006-04-09 |title=Living on edge |last=Chopra |first=Anupama |date=10 April 2006 |publisher=India Today}}</ref> Indrani Roy Mitra from [[Rediff.com]] rated the film 3 out of 5, terming it as "a unique attempt".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/23cyrus.htm |title=Being Cyrus is a unique attempt |last=Roy Mitra |first=Indrani |date=23 March 2006 |publisher=Rediff}}</ref>

Poonam Joshi from [[BBC]] rated the film 3 out of 5, terming it as "The emphasis here is on strong storytelling and riveting visuals, making for a curiously original film."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/03/24/being_cyrus_2006_review.shtml |title=Being Cyrus (2006) Rating |last=Joshi |first=Poonam |date=19 March 2006 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|0412308|Being Cyrus}}
* {{Official website|http://beingcyrus.indiatimes.com/}}

{{Homi Adajania}}

[[Category:2005 films]]
[[Category:English-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:2005 psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian black comedy films]]
[[Category:2005 black comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:2005 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2005 English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language black comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language thriller films]]
[[Category:Films distributed by PVR Inox Pictures]]

Being Cyrus - Revision history

Randy603804187 at 00:17, 19 February 2026