List of Parsis

Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was probably the best-known Parsi throughout the world.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This is a list of notable Parsis. The Parsis constitute one of the two Zoroastrian communities of the Indian subcontinent, the other being Irani.

In science and industry

• Aban Pestonjee: Sri Lankan entrepreneur
• Adi Bulsara (born 1952): physicist
• Adi Kanga (1923–2013): Indian Civil engineer, planned city of Navi Mumbai and Vashi bridge
• Ardaseer Cursetjee (1808–1877) of the Wadia shipbuilding family: first Indian elected Fellow of the Royal Society
• Ardeshir Darabshaw Shroff (1899–1965): Indian economist; delegate at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; co-author of the Bombay Plan; founder-director of the Investment Corporation of India; first Indian chairman of the Bank of India
• Ardeshir Godrej (1868–1936): Indian inventor; co-founder (with his brother Piroj) of the Godrej industries which does not include Godrej & Boyce, His son now runs Godrej Properties an aggregator model based real estate development firm.
• Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (born c. 1793) Lady: continued her husband Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy philanthropic work; builder of Mahim Causeway, connects two islands of Bombay and Salsette (north Bombay)
• Byram Dinshawji Avari (born 1942): Pakistan hotelier; founder and chairman of the Avari Group of companies
• Dinshaw Patel: Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering; member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Zubin Damania (born 1973), physician, comedian, internet personality, musician, and founder of Turntable Health
• Byramjee Jeejeebhoy (1822–1890) Esq., CSI: Indian philanthropist and founder of B.J. Medical College, Pune
• Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir (1879–1962): Indian civil engineer; master constructor of Bombay
• Cowasji Shavaksha Dinshaw (Adenwalla) (1827–1900): Indian entrepreneur
• Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Sir, (1812–1878): 1st Baronet, philanthropist, including various academic buildings of the Bombay University
• Cyrus Chothia (1942–2019): molecular biologist
• Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (born 1968): former chairman of Tata Group; Irish citizen businessman
• Cyrus Poonawalla (born 1945): Indian Industrialist, pharmacologist; co-founder of the Serum Institute of India
• Dhunjibhoy Bomanji, Sir (1862–1937): Indian Shipping Magnate, philanthropist
• Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, Sir (1823–1901): founded the first textile factories in India
• Dorabji Tata, Sir (1859–1932): Indian industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Dorab Tata Trust
• Fardunjee Marzban (1787–1847): publisher, founded the first vernacular newspaper on the Indian subcontinent Bombay Samachar
• Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960) publisher of The National Herald and The Navjivan newspapers and husband of Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India
• Framji Cowasji Banaji, Esq (1767 – 12 February 1851): merchant, philanthropist, lease holder of Powai
• Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966): nuclear scientist and first chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission
• Homi Maneck Mehta, Sir (1871–1948): industrialist in textiles, insurance, banking, chemicals & sugar. Represented India at League of Nations, Chairman of Bombay War Gift Fund and President of Victory Thanksgiving Fund.
• Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (1923–2010): Padma Vibhushan awardee, chemical engineer; guided the development of India's first nuclear explosive device
• Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody (1838–1911): financier and industrialist in Hong Kong. He contributed $150,000 to help establish the University of Hong Kong.
• Sir Temulji Bhicaji Nariman (1848–1940): obstetrician. Co-founded one of Bombay's first Lying-in hospitals in 1887 and was knighted in 1914 for his work during the plague epidemic in India at the turn of the 19th century.
• Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J. R. D.) Tata (1904–1993): industrialist; founder of Air India, India's first commercial airline
• Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Sir (1783–1859): opened sea trade with China; philanthropist, J J Hospital,
• Jamsetji Tata (1839–1904): industrialist; founder of the Tata Group of companies, titled a "One-Man Planning Commission" by Jawaharlal Nehru
• Jehangir Ghandy, Sir (1896–1972): built Tata Steel at Jamshedpur
• Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (1880–1960): industrialist; founded Hong Kong's first brewery; established the first anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in the Andajat
• Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia (1702–1774): shipwright and naval architect; builder of the first dry-dock in Asia
• Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (18??–1924?): industrialist and philanthropist; NED Engineering College
• Nariman Mehta (1920–2014): organic chemist and inventor of bupropion, the most commonly used antidepressant drug
• Nergis Mavalvala (born 1968): astrophysicist and professor at MIT
• Neville Wadia (1911–1996): businessman and son-in-law of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Nusli Wadia (born 1944): chairman of the Wadia Group
• Ness Wadia (born 1972): joint-managing director of Bombay Dyeing
• Noshir Gowadia (born 1944): aircraft engineer and convicted spy
• Nowroji Saklatwala (1875–1938): Chairman of Tata group of companies from 1932 until death by heart attack in 1938
• Pallonji Mistry (born 1929): construction tycoon
• Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej (1882–1972): entrepreneur; co-founder (with his brother Ardeshir) of the Godrej industrial empire
• Ratan Tata (born 1937): chairman emeritus of Tata Sons; former chairman of the Tata Group of companies; member of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India
• Russi Mody (1918–2014): former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited; son of Sir Homi Mody and brother of Piloo Mody
• Rustom Jal Vakil (1911–1974): cardiologist
• Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (1856–1926): a noted chairperson of Tata Group and Tata Sons; father of J. R. D. Tata
• Sir Sorabji Nusserwanji Pochkhanawala (1881–1937): banker, co-founder of the Central Bank of India
• Shiraz Minwalla (born 1972): theoretical physicist, String theorist
• Spenta R. Wadia (born 1950): theoretical physicist
• Ratanji Tata (1871–1918), Sir: younger son of Jamsetji Tata; industrialist and philanthropist; Sir Ratan Tata Trust
• Villoo Morawala-Patell (born 1955), MD of Avesthagen: Officer of the National Order of Merit holder

In academia

• Kaikhosrov D. Irani (1922–2017): former protégé of Albert Einstein; emeritus professor of Philosophy of Science at the City College of New York
• Homi K. Bhabha (born 1949): cultural-studies theorist; Professor, Harvard University
• Jamshed Bharucha (born 1956): President, Cooper Union. Formerly, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Dartmouth College (first Indian American to serve as the dean of a school at an Ivy League institution)
• Mahzarin Banaji (born 1956): Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
• Noshir Contractor (born 1959): Award-winning Professor of Behavioral Sciences, Communication and Management at Northwestern University
• Rusi Taleyarkhan: Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University
• Rohinton Kamakaka: Professor of Molecular Cell Developmental biology at University of California, Santa Cruz
• Thrity Umrigar (born 1961): Armitage Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University
• N. H. Wadia (1925–2016): Prominent neurologist; Director of Neurology at Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals for 25 years
• Vistasp Karbhari: President, University of Texas at Arlington
• Homi Kharas: deputy director for the global economy and development program at the Brookings Institution
• Ness B. Shroff: Ohio Eminent Scholar of Networking and Communications, and Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University

Military

• Lieutenant General FN Billimoria (1933–2005): Former Indian Army officer and head of Wellington Cantonment, father of Indo-British entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, Lord Bilimoria
• Admiral Jal Cursetji (1919–1991): Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy
• Air Marshal Aspy Engineer (1912–2002): Former Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force
• Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer (1921–1997): Former Indian Air Force AOC-in-Chief of Eastern and Western Air Commands
• Vice Admiral Rustom K. S. Ghandhi (1924–2014): Indian Navy Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and former Aide-de-camp to Governor-General of India Lord Louis Mountbatten
• Kavasji Jamshedji Petigara (1877–1941): First Indian Deputy Commissioner of the Mumbai Police
• Lieutenant General Adi M. Sethna (died 2006): Former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army
• J. P. B. Jeejeebhoy (1891–1950), first Indian pilot in the Royal Flying Corps
• Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore (1923–1965):, Indian Army officer and commanding officer of the Poona Horse, winner of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for gallantry
• Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major (born 1947): Former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force
• Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (1914–2008): Former Indian Chief of Army Staff and the first Indian with the rank of Field Marshal
• Major General Cyrus Addie Pithawalla (born 1957): Recipient of the Ashoka Chakra

In entertainment, religion, sports

• Aban Marker Kabraji (born 1953): Pakistani ecologist, Asian regional director of IUCN
• Amyra Dastur (born 1993): model, film actress, television presenter
• Alaya Furniturewala (born 1998): model and film actresses
• Aneela Mirza, or Anila Mirza (born 8 October 1974), Danish singer who has found success as a member of the pop group Toy-Box and as a solo artist under the name of Aneela
• Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926–2012): investigative journalist and newspaper columnist
• Aruna Irani (born 18 August 1946), Bollywood actress and dancer
• Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938): author and screenwriter; vocal proponent of women's rights
• Behram "Busybee" Contractor (1930–2001): journalist and columnist
• Behramji Malabari (1853–1912): poet, publicist, author, and social reformer
• Bejan Daruwalla (1931-2020): astrologer
• Burjor Khurshedji Karanjia (1919–2012): Indian film journalist and editor, chairman NFDC
• Cyrus Broacha (born 1971): MTV India VJ and stand-up comedian
• Cyrus Poncha (born 1976): Asian Squash Federation Junior Coach of the Year 2003–04
• Deena M. Mistri (1924–2011): author and educationalist; recipient of Pakistan's "Pride of Performance" medal
• Diana Eduljee (born 1956): first captain of the Indian women's Cricket team – from 1978 till 1993
• Diana Penty (born 1985): actress and model
• Dinyar Contractor: Parsi stage actor, Comedian and Bollywood actor
• Dolly Nazir (born 1935): swimmer
• Erick Avari (born 1952): Hollywood actor.
• Farokh Engineer (born 1938): cricketer.
• Farrukh Dhondy (born 1944): novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist.
• Firdaus Kanga (born 1960): author, actor and screenwriter.
• Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946–1991): rock icon and lead singer for Queen.
• Fredoon Kabraji (1897–1986): poet, writer, journalist, and artist writing in English.
• Gary Lawyer (born 1959): singer-songwriter
• Godrej Sidhwa (1925-2011): theologian and historian.
• Goshpi Avari (born 19??): first Pakistani woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.
• Homai Vyarawalla (1913–2012): India's first woman photojournalist, Padma Vibhushan.
• Homi Adajania (born 1972): Film Director, Writer and Scuba Diving Instructor
• Jamshedji Sorab Kukadaru (1831-1900): priest and ascetic
• Jehan Daruvala (born 1998): Indian racing driver.
• Jim Sarbh (born 1987): actor on film, stage and television.
• Jivanji Jamshedji Modi Sir: Zoroastrian scholar, Ph.D from Heidelberg, Germany, recognition and awards, for scholarship, from Sweden, France, and Hungary.
• John Abraham: Bollywood actor with a Parsi-Christian background
• Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988): composer, music critic, pianist, and writer.
• Kaizad Gustad (born 1968): film director.
• Karl Umrigar (1960–1979): Indian jockey
• Keki Daruwalla (born 1937): poet and writer
• Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla (1875–1956): high priest and religious scholar.
• Mehli Irani (1930–2021), Indian cricketer
• Mehli Mehta (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras.
• Mehr Jesia (born 1968): Indian model
• Nariman "Nari" Contractor (born 1934): cricketer; coach at the CCI Academy.
• Nauheed Cyrusi (born 1982): model, film actress, television presenter
• Nazneen Contractor (born 1982): film actress
• Nina Wadia (born 1968): British-Indian comedian and television actress, currently and most notably from EastEnders.
• Perizaad Zorabian (born 1973): model, film actress
• Persis Khambatta (1950–1998): actress and model. Miss India in 1965.
• Phiroz Mehta (1902–1994): writer on religious topics and philosopher.
• Pahlan Ratanji "Polly" Umrigar (1926–2006): cricketer.
• Rachel Viccaji Pakistani singer and musician.
• Rashid Byramji Horse trainer
• Rohinton Mistry (born 1952): novelist, short story author, screenplay writer.
• Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (1912–2008): journalist & editor, founder of India's first tabloid, Blitz.
• Sanaya Irani (born 1983): Indian actress
• Sanaya Pithawalla (born 1993): actress, TV personality.
• Sam Dastor (born 1941): television actor and director.
• Shapur Kharegat (1932–2000): journalist, editor and director of The Economist (Asia).
• Shiamak Davar (born 1961): Bollywood choreographer
• Sohrab Modi (1897–1984): stage and film actor, director and producer.
• Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957): screenwriter, author and photographer.
• Tara Sutaria (born 1995): actress.
• Varun Toorkey (born 1990): television and film actor.
• Viraf Phiroz Patel (born 1980): The Grasim Mr. India 2005, model turned actor
• Zarin Mehta (born 1938): musician; executive director of the New York Philharmonic since 2000
• Zarnak Sidhwa (born 1972): Pakistani Chef with a TV show on Masala TV.
• Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): human rights campaigner
• Zoe Viccaji (born 1983): Pakistani singer and musician
• Zubin Mehta (born 1936): musician; Musical Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, former director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Bavarian State Opera.
• Zubin Surkari (born 1980): Canadian international cricketer.
• Zubin Varla (born 1970): stage actor.

Politicians, activists and bureaucrats

• B. P. Wadia (1881–1958), Indian theosophist and labour activist. Pioneered the creation of workers unions in India.
• Cowasji Jehangir (Readymoney) (1812–1878): J.P.; introduced income tax in India; first baronet of Bombay.
• Frene Ginwala (born 1932): member of the ANC and aided Nelson Mandela in abolishing apartheid in South Africa. Later served for 7 years as Speaker Of the House of Parliament in South Africa
• Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta (1886–1952): former Mayor of Karachi for 12 consecutive years.
• Jamsheed Marker (1922–2018): Pakistani diplomat, ambassador to more countries than any other person; recipient of Hilal-i Imtiaz.
• Justice Dorab Patel (1924–1997): former Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, former Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and human rights campaigner.
• K. N. Choksy (1933–2015): Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka
• Mancherjee Bhownagree (1851–1933): politician, second Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Conservative).
• Minocher Bhandara (1937?–2008): Pakistani parliamentarian and owner of Muree Brewery.
• Minoo Masani (1905–1998): author, parliamentarian and a member of the Constituent Assembly.
• Piloo Mody (1926–1983): architect, parliamentarian, one of the founder-members of the Swatantra Party.
• Rustam S. Sidhwa (1927–1997): judge on the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as one of the original eleven judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
• Sanjay Gandhi (1946–1980): the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroz Gandhi, who followed his father's Parsi religion throughout his life.
• Shapurji Saklatvala (1874–1936): socialist, workers' welfare activist, third Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Communist, Labour).
• Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): author and founder of the ASHA Centre made political history being elected as the first non-white woman for the Liberal Party in 1982.
• Kobad Ghandy (born 1951): communist ideologue, affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist), political prisoner from 2009-2019.

Indian independence movement

• Bhikaiji Cama (1861–1936): political activist, co-creator of the Indian nationalist flag.
• Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917): economist, political activist, first Asian to be elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (Liberal), first to publicly demand independence for India.
• Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960): journalist and politician; Indian MP under his father-in-law Jawaharlal Nehru; husband of Indira Gandhi, father of Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, and grandfather of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi.
• Khurshed Framji Nariman (18??–19??): social activist, Mayor of Bombay. Member of the Indian National Congress.
• Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir (1845–1915): political activist, co-founder and a President of the Indian National Congress, founder of the Bombay Municipal Corporation

Law

• Dinshah Fardunji Mulla (born 1868): Indian author of legal reference books, appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1930, assistant editor of Pollock’s Commentaries on Indian Contract Act
• Fali Sam Nariman (born 1929): jurist, recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan
• Nanabhoy ("Nani") Palkhivala (1920–2002): prominent jurist and economist
• S. H. Kapadia (1947–2016): 38th Chief Justice of India
• Sam Piroj Bharucha (born 1937): 30th Chief Justice of India
• Soli Jehangir Sorabjee (born 1930-2021): former Attorney-General of India
• Hormasji Maneckji Seervai (1906–1996): eminent Indian jurist
• T. R. Andhyarujina (1933–2017): senior advocate
• Cornelia Sorabji (1866–1954): first female graduate of Bombay University, first female to read law at Oxford University and first woman to practice law in India and Britain
• Rohinton Fali Nariman (born 1956): Judge, Supreme Court of India; Delhi University; Harvard University
• Shiavax Jal Vazifdar (born 1956): Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court
• Karl Jamshed Khandalavala (1904–1995): the defence lawyer of KM Nanavati in the case of K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra
• Neomi Rao (born 1973): circuit judge of United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, former Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (converted to Judaism)

Others

• Bhicaji Balsara (1872–1962): first Indian to become a naturalized US Citizen
• Bukhtyar Rustomji (1899–1936): Mumbai-born Lancaster doctor executed for murdering his wife and a maid
• Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja (1873–1947): first Indian to be appointed appraiser of precious stones to British Indian customs. Awarded the title of Khan Sahib
• Lady Frainy Dhunjibhoy Bomanji (14 September 1893 – 1986): Lady Harrogate, philanthropist, Honorary Freemanship of the Borough in 1984
• Jimmy Bharucha (died 2005): Sri Lankan broadcaster
• Keiki R. Mehta: ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee
• Rattanbai Petit (1900–1929): second wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Goshpi Avari: Asian Games gold-medalist and Pride of Performance honorary
• Jehangir Hormasji Kothari (1857–1934): philanthropist and world traveller.

In arts

• Fredoon Kabraji (1897–1986): poet
• Hormazd Narielwalla (born 1979): collage artist and author, based in London
• Jehangir Sabavala (1922–2011): painter
• Karl Keki Singporewala (born 1983): architect & sculptor
• Shirin Darasha (1938–2012): playwright

Fictional characters

• The Cake "Parsee" (colloquial British spelling of Parsi) in "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin", a chapter in Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. Kipling names him as Pestonjee Bomonjee in the illustration accompanying the story.

See also

• Irani
• List of Zoroastrians