Homi Adajania (born 28 February 1972) 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.[1]
Career
Template:BLP sources section Born on 28 February 1972,[2][3] 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."[4]
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 daughters-in-law. The show streamed on 5 May 2023 with positive reviews on Disney+ Hotstar.[5]
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.[6] It is an adaptation to the best-selling novel, Club you to Death, by Anuja Chauhan .[7] The film will be streamed on Netflix in 2024.
Early life
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Adajania was born on 28 February 1972 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.[8][9] Homi lost his sister, Zia Diwan Adajania, to a stroke in 2014.[10]
Personal life
He is married to fashion stylist and the Fashion Director of Vogue India, Anaita Shroff Adajania[11] and has two children.[12][13] His sister-in-law, Scherezade Shroff - a well known YouTuber, is married to actor Vaibhav Talwar.[14]
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.[12]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Being Cyrus | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Template:No |
| 2012 | Cocktail | Template:Yes | Template:No | Template:No |
| 2014 | Finding Fanny | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Template:No |
| 2017 | Raabta | Template:No | Template:No | Template:Yes |
| 2019 | The Fakir Of Venice | Template:No | Template:Partial | Template:No |
| 2020 | Angrezi Medium | Template:Yes | Template:No | Template:No |
| 2024 | Murder Mubarak | Template:Yes | Template:No | Template:No |
| 2026 | Template:Pending film | Template:Yes | Template:No | Template:No |
Short films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | My Choice[15] | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Template:Yes |
Television
| Year | Title | Creator | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Template:Partial |
References
- ↑ Homi Adajania's unmade films are his best. The Hindu(2 May 2023). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ↑ Sara Ali Khan shares a photo in a 'beard' as she wishes Homi Adajania on his birthday. India Today(1 March 2023). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ↑ ‘Anything that’s pre-planned loses a certain sense of truth’: Homi Adajania. The Indian Express(4 May 2023). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ Masand's verdict: Being Cyrus, Masand, Rajeev. Rajeev Masand. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ↑ Disney+ Hotstar Sets 'Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo' From Director Homi Adajania As Latest Series Original. Deadline(6 April 2023). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Tisca Chopra joins cast of Sara Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor starrer 'Murder Mubarak'. The Times of India(28 March 2023). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Homi Adajania's unmade films are his best. The Hindu(2 May 2023). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Homi Adajania: I was blown away with the ease with which Deepika Padukone fit into her role - Times of India. The Times of India(12 September 2014). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ That distinct Parsi touch. The Statesman(24 March 2018). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ Director Homi Adajania's sister Zia Adajania-Divan passes away | India.com. India.com(29 October 2014). Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ↑ Homi Adajania on the Fresh Look of 'Cocktail', Vijayakar, R. M.(20 July 2012). Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ten things you should know about Homi Adajania(11 July 2012). Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ↑ Will the real Homi please stand up?. Tehelka({Template:Date).
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Misunderstanding made 'My Choice' explosively viral: Homi Adajania. The Indian Express(10 April 2015). Retrieved 28 May 2023.