Homi Adajania is an Indian film director and writer. He is best known for directing the 2012 blockbuster ‘Cocktail.’ In 2023, he directed and created the TV series ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo,’ which aired on Disney+ Hotstar.
Wiki/Biography
Homi Adajania was born in 1972 (age 51 years; in 2023) in Mumbai. He completed his bachelor’s degree from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 11″
Weight (approx): 60 kg
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Family
He belongs to a Persian family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Aspy Adajania; he is an Indian Army officer. He was a pioneer of amateur boxing in India and also served as a sports administrator and referee for various high profile matches officiated. His mother’s name is Persis Adajania. Homi Adajania has a sister named Zia Diwan Adajania, who died in 2014 due to heart disease.
Wife & Children
Homi Adajania married Anaita Shroff Adajania in 2002. The couple has two sons named Zane Adajania and Zreh Adajania.
Homi Adajania with his wife
Homi Adajania’s wife and son
Other relatives
Famous YouTuber Scherezade Shroff is her sister-in-law. She is married to Vaibhav Talwar, who is an actor and model.
Career
Movie
Homi Adajania made her directorial debut with the Indian English-language film ‘Being Cyrus’ (2005), starring Saif Ali Khan. However, the film did not do well at the box office.
‘Being Cyrus’ movie poster
In 2012, he directed the Bollywood film ‘Cocktail’ which was declared a hit at the box office. He worked as a director and screenwriter for the film ‘Finding Fanny’ (2014). It is a bilingual film released in Hindi and English. He started his career as a producer with the short film ‘My Choice’ (2015); he also wrote and directed the film. The short film is part of Vogue’s women’s empowerment campaign. In 2017, he produced the Bollywood film ‘Raabta’ starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon.
‘Raabta’ movie poster
Adajania worked as a story writer for the Hindi comedy drama film ‘The Fakir of Venice’ (2019). In 2020, he directed the film ‘Angrezi Medium.’
TV series
In 2023, he directed and created the crime drama TV series ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo’ which aired on Hotstar. The TV series stars Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, and Naseeruddin Shah in lead roles.
‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo’ TV series poster
Controversy
Criticized for short film ‘My Choice’
In 2015, Homi Adajania was heavily criticized for conveying the wrong message in her short film ‘My Choice.’ The film is based on women empowerment and talks about the freedom of choice that women should have. Critics considered the film ‘sexist or man-bashing’ for the dialogue in the film, the quote,
It is my choice to marry or not to marry… It is my choice to have sex before marriage or to have sex outside of marriage…”
Adajania later asserted that his film was misunderstood by the audience. He explained in an interview that he did not intend to hurt the public’s perception and impression. However, he also said that misunderstandings and criticism of his film made it more viral. While talking about this in an interview, he said,
Ironically, that misunderstanding is what caused #MyChoice to go viral and if that’s what it takes to get people talking about gender equality then I’m ready to take a beating and be misunderstood. More power to women and let’s hope the healthy discussion about gender equality continues.”
Awards & Achievements
- In 2006, he won the Silver Hanuman Award at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival for the film ‘Being Cyrus.’
- In 2013, he was nominated for the ‘Best Director’ award at the Producers Guild Film Awards (now known as the Apsara Awards) for the film ‘Cocktail.’
- In 2021, he was nominated for ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Film Director’ awards for the film ‘Angrezi Medium.’
Tattoo
He got a fish tattoo on his right bicep.
Homi Adajania tattoo on his right bicep
Favourite
- Authors: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende and Albert Camus
Facts/Trivia
- Homi Adajania always wanted to be a commercial scuba diver, but because the job involved risking death, he decided to pursue a career in the film industry and join the advertising giant after finishing college.
- His father used to run a petrol pump in Mumbai’s red light district, and after his death, the business was taken over by Homi Adajaina when he was 23 years old. He finds it very difficult to run a petrol pump in an area where prostitutes, mafia, and police are all around him. In an interview, he shared a horrifying incident that happened with them while working there. He said,
It is very uncreative and dangerous. I remember how my manager was robbed and his finger was cut in front of me while he was taking cash to the bank.”
- In an interview, he revealed that it took him 10 years to get over the fear he experienced while working in the red light district. He said, he traveled for 10 years to prepare himself to work elsewhere. He also revealed that he does a lot of odd jobs to make ends meet.
- Apart from filmmaking, Adajania also has a high interest in sports. He has played as a winger for a rugby team in Mumbai called ‘Bombay Gymkhana.’ He is also a CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) certified scuba diving instructor and has been working on Lakshadweep Island for almost eight years.
- He shot his debut film ‘Being Cyrus’ in his own bungalow in Panchgani, Maharashtra, which he later sold to Bollywood actor Amir Khan.
- In 2014, he was slammed by the paparazzi after he was caught kissing Deepika Padukone at a party, when he was drunk.
Homi Adajania kisses Deepika Padukone
- He is good friends with Dinesh Vijan, who is a Bollywood director.
Homi Adajania with Dinesh Vijan (left)
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
