Alyque Padamsee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alyque Padamsee
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Padamsee in 2012
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| Born | 5 March 1928 |
| Died | 17 November 2018 (aged 90) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Occupation | Theatre personality, Ad-film maker |
| Spouse(s) | Pearl Padamsee (divorced) Dolly Thakore (divorced) Sharon Prabhakar (separated) |
| Children | 3, including Shazahn Padamsee |
| Relatives | Akbar Padamsee (brother) Raisa Padamsee (niece) |
Alyque Padamsee (born March 5, 1928 – died November 17, 2018) was a famous Indian theatre artist and a brilliant ad film maker. He was well-known for his role as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the 1982 British movie Gandhi.
Besides his work in theatre as an actor and producer, Padamsee was also a top advertising expert. He once led a big advertising company called Lintas Bombay.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alyque Padamsee was born in Bombay in 1928. His family was from the Khoja Muslim Ismaili community in the Kutch region of Gujarat. His family had lived in the nearby Kathiawar region for many years.
His father, Jafferseth Padamsee, was a rich businessman. He owned buildings and ran a glassware and furniture business. His mother, Kulsumbai Padamsee, was a homemaker. Alyque was one of eight children.
Even though his family was wealthy, his parents did not finish school. Alyque and his brothers were the first in their family to go to school and learn English. Alyque grew up in a very traditional and religious family. However, by the age of 18, he described himself as an agnostic. This means he believed it's impossible to know if God exists. He studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Family Life
Alyque Padamsee had three important relationships in his life. His first wife was Pearl Padamsee. They had a daughter together named Raell Padamsee. Raell now runs an acting school that her mother started. Pearl kept the name 'Padamsee' even after they separated.
Later, Alyque had a long relationship with Dolly Thakore. They had a son named Quasar Thakore-Padamsee. Quasar also works in theatre, just like his father.
After that, Alyque married Sharon Prabhakar. They had a daughter named Shazahn Padamsee. Shazahn is an actress, following in her father's footsteps. All of Alyque's children and step-children have worked in the entertainment industry.
Advertising Career
For 14 years, Alyque Padamsee was the Chief Executive of Lintas India. He helped make it one of the best advertising agencies in the country. He was even called the Father of Modern Indian Advertising. He helped build over 100 different brands.
Padamsee was the only Indian person to be chosen for the International Clio Hall of Fame. This is like the "Oscars" for advertising around the world. He also wrote a best-selling book about advertising called A Double Life. This book is used in business schools today.
He also worked as a creative advisor for many national and international companies through his own firm, AP Advertising Pvt. Ltd.
Theatre Work
Alyque Padamsee was very famous for his English theatre plays in India. Some of his well-known productions include Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Broken Images. His play Broken Images was even shown at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in 2011.
He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre from the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He is also known around the world for playing Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Sir Richard Attenborough's movie Gandhi.
He also worked for groups like Citizens for Justice & Peace. He was on the Advisory Council of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay). He also advised Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on commercial television.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1982 | Gandhi | Muhammad Ali Jinnah |
Awards and Recognition
- The President of India honored him with the Padma Shri award in 2000. This is one of India's highest civilian awards.
- The Advertising Club of Mumbai called him the "Advertising Man of the Century".
- He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna award in 2012.
