As Sam Manekshaw belonged to the Parsi community, in a heartfelt tribute - major companies with Parsi leadership will...
Film Articles
Behzad Dabu: He’s a 3rd-generation actor making a living in TV
He’s a 3rd-generation actor making a living in TV. It started with the role of ‘Pompous Face’ Behzad Dabu is an actor...
Pastailo Pappo: How to unravel this cine mystery ?
The long history of the Parsi community in the city has another interesting page added to its chapters. The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) recently recovered a lost 1951 film, Pastailo Pappo, from...
Through a lens, gently
The city premiere of Divya Cowasji’s film next month will showcase the best and brightest—and last—of Parsi theatre’s singing stars Veteran stars Bomi and Dolly Dotiwala (centre) practising with...
J F Madan: The Parsi Pioneer of Bengali Film Industry
In the heart of Kolkata’s famous Dharmatala neighbourhood is Madan Street, a road not unlike many others in the commercial heart of the city. And yet this unremarkable street is named after a man...
The Rise and Fall of the Pioneers of Indian Cinema
Little remains of the thousands of silent features made in early-20th-century India. That doesn’t make the story of how they came to be – and why they disappeared – any less interesting.This is the...
J.B.H. WADIA: From Spectator To Creator
A young boy's obsession with film was the cause of his secret trips to Bombay's cinematheques. Perhaps it was J.B.H. Wadia's heart thudding in anticipation that often broke the silence enveloping...
Jim Sarbh on playing Homi Bhabha: Role is special because of shared Parsi heritage
Jim Sarbh honoured to pay tribute to India’s brightest scientists as he plays Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys; Ishwak Singh steps into Vikram Sarabhai’s shoes.First look of Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha in...
First of Many: Delnaaz Irani revisits Commander
This week's First of Many features Delnaz Irani. In the 86th edition of our series, the actor talks about her first acting project, Sri Adhikari Brothers' TV show Commander (1992).Delnaz Irani never...
Put the Accent on Diversity: Persis Khambatta
A recent FEZANA Talk featured the life and times of the brilliant Parsi actor Persis Khambatta. The talk brought Vaishali Sinha, Sooni Taraporevala and Farah Bala to discuss Persis Khambatta. The...
BBC Documentary on the Jiyo Parsi Program, March 2021
The full 9 minute BBC segment on the Jiyo Parsi program including extended interviews with Professor Dr. Almut Hintze; Zartoshty Brothers Professor of Zoroastrianism at SOAS and Xerxes Dastur,...
Nina Wadia on breaking through & giving back to society
Grab an icepick, start climbing the ladder: Nina Wadia on breaking through & giving back to societyNina Wadia, who rose to fame in the 1990s with the iconic comedy sketch show ‘Goodness Gracious...
‘How To Get Away With Murder,’ ‘The Chi’ Actor Behzad Dabu Signs With A3 Artists Agency
A3 Artists Agency will represent actor Behzad Dabu.Dabu appeared as Simon Drake on How To Get Away with Murder. In the ABC series, Dabu’s character can be seen clashing with the group of interns...
Mubadala | 49th UAE National Day by Hanoz Navder
Hanoz Navder of Dubai UAE, is the video editor on this lovely film celebrating the 49th National Day of the United Arab Emirates. Mubadala | 49th UAE National Day from Hanoz Navdar on Vimeo.Client -...
Nazneen Contractor Makes History As The First South Asian Lead In The Hallmark Channel Film, “The Christmas Ring”
Nazneen Contractor is making history as being the first South Asian to lead a Hallmark movie. The Christmas Ring airs on Hallmark Channel on November 7th at 10 PM EST and on the W Network on...
A Film: Zoroastrianism – The World’s Oldest Monotheistic Religion
Our dear friend, and FEZANA’s Chief Social Media Officer Tanya Hoshi has put out another fantastic video titled “Zoroastrianism - The World's Oldest Monotheistic Religion”. In this video Mobed...
Fravash Chothia: 2019 Muktads Documented in Toronto
Fravash Chothia is a young Zarathushti based in Toronto. Fravash is a budding filmmaker and he put out this really interesting video capturing the 2019 Muktad times in Toronto. Fravash writesThis...
Cyrus Karanjia: An Art Director’s Showreel
Our dear friend and young budding art director Cyrus Karanjia of Karachi, Pakistan has put on a new showreel. Check out a small glimpse of the amazing art direction and prop styling that Cyrus has...
Bollywood Stuntwoman Sanober Pardiwala In Conversation
Do you think stunt doubles get enough credit for the hard work they put in on behalf of celebrities and their safety? Today on The Girl Club Of Bollywood we have Sanober Pardiwala - a stuntwoman who...
Glimpses of Kekoo Gandhy’s Mumbai
Kekee Manzil - The House of Art chronicles a micro-history of the city anchored in a century-old family home Filmmakers Behroze Gandhy and Dilesh Korya’s documentary, Kekee Manzil - The House of Art...
Parsi Dharamshala in Calcutta: A Short Film
Born in Bombay, Jaimin Rajani is a documentary filmmaker and singer-songwriter now residing in Calcutta. He has extensively written about the Parsi cuisine. The Parsi Dharmshala in Central Calcutta...
This heartfelt film offers a brief history of modern art in India
The iconic Bandra mansion owned by gallerist Kekoo Gandhy gives the name to a new documentary by his daughter, BehrozeIndependent film 'Kekee Manzil: The House of Art' also showcases the life of the...
Sooni Taraporevala’s Netflix debut, Yeh Ballet proves that talent has no boundaries
A coming-of-age film about two male ballet dancers, Sooni Taraporevala was so inspired by these boys that she told their story twiceTake a closer look at the films that have dominated box offices in...
Yeh Ballet Directed by Sooni Taraporevala On Netflix India
Our dear friend Sooni Taraporevala has been extremely busy over the last few months and the reason is for everyone to see. Yeh Ballet, her latest project that she has directed shall “drop” on...
Ardeshir Irani, the father of Indian talkies who had many other milestones to his name
Ardeshir Irani | Commons New Delhi: “The theatre was mobbed. Tickets were unavailable for weeks and the police was called in to control a riotous mob,” writes movie historian B.D. Garga on the...
Persis Khambatta : The bold model-actor
Raised by a single mother in Mumbai, Persis Khambhatta went on to become Miss India and make strides in Hollywood. Article by Pia Krishnankutty | The PrintBest known for going bald for her role in...
A Peek Inside Actor Boman Irani’s House
Boman Irani takes us inside his ‘noisy, full and loving’ house, reveals Anil Kapoor’s advice behind his purchase. Boman Irani shows a glimpse of his ‘noisy, full and loving’ house which has been...
Zia Mandviwalla: Kiwi-Indian woman finds spotlight in Netflix series Chef’s Table
A Kiwi-Indian woman and noted short filmmaker Zia Mandviwalla has become the first ever New Zealander to direct an episode of popular Netflix series Chef’s Table.Chef’s Table, a popular Netflix...
Aryenish Birdie: People in the Movies Aren’t Parsi Like Me, Except in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
Flaws aside, the Freddie Mercury biopic was "deeply personal" for writer and activist Aryenish Birdie because it was the first time she ever saw her ethnic identity in pop culture.“Bohemian...
Parsis of Pakistan "The Silent Server"
The Parsis are the descendants of the Zoroastrian community who fled from Iran during 8th to 10th century to escape the persecution of the Fanatical Muslim invaders who invaded Iran. They fled and...
A Persian Popinjay. A Review of the Film Bohemian Rhapsody
The Demands of the NarrativeThe film opens with a close-up of star Rami Malek’s eye, a circlet of pale blue-grey iris clearly visible around a wide black pupil. The actor probably chose to eschew...
Amyra Dastur on being an actress, ‘It’s scary’
Talents coming from a non-Bollywood background and standing on two feet in the industry gain more respect from the audience, says actress Amyra Dastur. Daughter of a doctor and a businesswoman,...
Simran Jehani’s film portrays Zoroastrianism
When Simran Jehani first came to USC, people asked her a question she was all too familiar with — “what are you?” Telling them she was Zoroastrian caused some confusion — so Jehani, a senior...
Sooni Taraporevala to direct Siddharth Roy Kapur’s upcoming production Ballet Boys
Siddharth Roy Kapur’s next brings back Sooni Taraporevala as director with a true-life story.A decade after making her directorial debut with the National Award-winning family drama Little Zizou,...
21 Days to Nawroz By Michelle Mama
Kurdistan, “The Other Iraq”, has been held up as a shining example of peace in the Middle East since US sanctioned protections were put in place in 1992, but how has this experimental democracy...
Turning Tables World Premiere – Press Release
Tanya Hoshi Our dear friend and brilliant young Zoroastrian filmmaker Tanya Hoshi's latest project, "Turning Tables", will be having its World Premiere in Toronto at the Hot Docs International...
Fali Mistry, the Cinematographer Who Taught Bollywood the Importance of Cameramen
Fali Mistry was known for the imaginative imagery he created out of a dramatic interplay between light and shade. Even the hard to please Baburao Patel, in his Filmindia review of the Nargis-Dilip...
Amyra dastur’s Telugu Film debut
“On one fine morning, Manjula madam called me and narrated the story. She asked me if I was interested in working for a role which is now played by Tridha. She somehow thought that I would fit in...
Not Just Milk and Sugar
Not Just Milk and Sugar is a beautiful film written and directed by good friend and brilliant young director Divya Cowasji. Not Just Milk & Sugar is an accessible inquiry into the Zoroastrian...
Mumbai’s iconic Parsi Colony is being memorialised by Bollywood even as it’s being transformed
We have all been inside Jehangir Bulsara’s apartment in Parsi Colony in Mumbai’s Dadar neighbourhood. We have walked over its Italian tiles, enjoyed a meal in the spacious living room, stared out...
Yeh Ballet
Our dear friend Sooni Taraporevala informs us of Yeh Ballet, a lovely virtual reality short film she recently completed. Sooni writes… Yeh ballet kya cheez hai? What is this thing called ballet Amir...
Katy Mirza The Asli Braveheart
Tracing the Playboy Bunnydom to Bollywood journey of the yesteryear sensation who succumbed to cancer at her central London home a week ago No one cried for Katy Mirza, the pleasure principle of the...
Wadias sue Vishal Bhardwaj, take ‘Rangoon’ to court
Roy Wadia sues Vishal Bhardwaj for copyright infringement, alleging Kangana Ranaut's character in 'Rangoon' is inspired by Fearless Nadia, right down to the use of her catch phrase, bloody hell!...
Where Is My Tent
Where is my Tent is a beautiful film directed by Zubin Sethna that documents the journey of a tent. “Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Northern Pakistan: I find myself back in a village named...
Navroze Contractor: The dying culture of ‘kushti’ in akhadas
Navroze Contractor now records the tradition of kushti and akhadas. Navroze Contractor wishes there are more than 24 hours in a day . The veteran cinematographer, known for his work in national...
Najamai for Donald J. Trump
The amazing Zavare Tengra brings us “Najamai For Trump”. Najamai can't wait for Trump to be her next President ! Imagine a country that's all white like her !
PARZOR Presents: An Evening with Boman Irani
Boman Irani gets candid discussing Parsis and Entertainment, while interacting with an audience in Delhi during the Parzor Cultural Events supported by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla.
Jamshed Irani Films the Everlasting Flame Exhibitions
Jamshed Farhad Irani was one of a handful of Parsi youth who visited New Delhi to see the seminal exhibitions under The Everlasting Flame Program put together by PARZOR. The video link was sent to...
Nazneen Contractor Joins CBS Drama ‘Ransom’
You may remember Nazneen Contractor as Kayla Hassan, the daughter of President Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor) and Dalia Hassan (Necar Zadegan) from the eighth and final season of the Fox series “24,”...
Getting Better: A Documentary on KEM Hospital By Gulserene Dastur at New Hope Festival
Gulserene Dastur made her documentary film making debut at 64. Her film titled "Getting Better" is being screened at the New Hope Film Festival on 26th July.This is a small Film Festival in New...
The ancient Persian god that may be at the heart of ‘Game of Thrones’
The sixth season of HBO's hit series "Game of Thrones," starting this weekend, will likely bring into focus an important historical element from the fictive universe of George R. R. Martin's novels,...
Boman Irani talks movies: In Conversation
Article on Filmfare.com He’s one of the best things about Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale. Tell Boman that and he beams. He reveals what’s unique about working in a Rohit Shetty movie. “Generally, you...