Sajid Nadiadwala

Biography:

Sajid Nadiadwala, born on February 18, 1966, is an influential figure in Hindi cinema, serving as an Indian film producer, writer, and director. He is the proprietor of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and is the grandson of filmmaker A.K. Nadiadwala. Sajid has contributed to the industry by writing and producing films like Housefull (2010) and Baaghi (2016), and directing Kick (2014), earning him accolades as a debutant director. Additionally, he scripted the Marathi film Lai Bhaari, produced by Riteish Deshmukh.

The Nadiadwala legacy traces back to Abdul Karim Nadiadwala, Sajid’s grandfather, who migrated to Bombay from Nadiad, Gujarat, in 1955. The family established its presence in Malad, owning theaters and having streets named after them, with a significant landholding of over 5,000 acres. Sajid, immersed in the world of films from childhood, watched movies in the theaters owned by his grandfather. His father also ventured into film production. Sajid’s journey included completing his CA and law, followed by joining J.P. Dutta as an assistant director for Ghulami at the age of 21.

Sajid commenced his career as a production assistant in his uncle’s production house before founding his own production company, “Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt Ltd,” at the age of 25. In 1992, he produced his maiden film, Zulm Ki Hukumat, starring Dharmendra and Govinda. Notable milestones include bringing together Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty for the first time in Waqt Hamara Hai (1993).

Over the years, Sajid Nadiadwala delivered several successful films, including Heyy Babyy (2007), Kambakkht Ishq (2009) featuring Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards, and Brandon Routh, and the Housefull franchise, with Housefull 2 (2012) entering the 100-crore club. In 2014, his productions Highway, 2 States, and Heropanti achieved significant success, with the latter marking the directorial debut of Sajid himself. Kick (2014), a remake of a Telugu film, emerged as a blockbuster and one of the highest-grossing Indian films, elevating Jacqueline Fernandez’s career.

Sajid Nadiadwala’s personal life includes his marriage to actress Divya Bharti in 1992, who tragically passed away ten months later. He later married journalist Warda Khan in 2000, and the couple has two sons. However, his involvement in an online charity chess event in June 2021, where he, along with others, was accused of cheating against chess champion Vishwanathan Anand, led to the suspension of their accounts by Chess.com.