List of Parsis

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

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

In science and industry

• Adi Bulsara (born 1952): physicist
• Ardaseer Cursetjee of the Wadia shipbuilding family, first Indian elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
• Ardeshir Darabshaw Shroff (1899–1965): 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): inventor; co-founder (with his brother Piroj) of the Godrej industrial empire
• Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy 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): Pakistani hotelier, founder and chairman of the Avari Group of companies.
• Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Sir: philanthropist and founder of B.J. Medical College, Pune.
• Cawas Jehangirji Bardoliwalla (1934-1978): Roll-Royce & Bentley Motors and Aerospace Engineer, UK
• Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir (1879–1962): civil engineer; master constructor of Bombay
• Cowasji Shavaksha Dinshaw (Adenwalla) (1827–1900): entrepreneur; founder of the modern port of Aden
• Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Sir, (1812–1878): 1st Baronet, philanthropist, including various academic buildings of the Bombay University.
• Cyrus Chothia: molecular biologist
• Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (born 1968): Chairman of Tata Group; Irish businessman
• Cyrus Poonawalla (born 1945): industrialist, pharmacologist; co-founder of the Serum Institute of India
• Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, Sir (1823–1901): founded the first textile factories in India
• Dorabji Tata, Sir (1859–1932): industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Dorab Tata Trust.
• Fardunjee Marzban (1787–1847): publisher, founded the first vernacular newspaper on the Indian subcontinent Bombay Samachar
• Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966): nuclear scientist; 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.
• Hormusjee Naorojee Mody, Sir (1838–1911): financier and industrialist in Hong Kong. He contributed the then great sum of $150,000 to help establish the University of Hong Kong.
• Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J. R. D.) Tata (1904–1993): industrialist; founder of India's first commercial airline: Air India
• Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Sir (1783–1859): opened sea trade with China; philanthropist, J J Hospital,
• Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (1839–1904): industrialist; founder of the Tata group of companies, titled a "One-Man Planning Commission" by Jawaharlal Nehru
• Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (1880–1960): industrialist; founded Hong Kong's first brewery; established the first anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in the far-east
• 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: organic chemist and inventor of bupropion, the most commonly used antidepressant drug
• Nergis Mavalvala: astrophysicist and professor at MIT
• Ness Wadia (born 1970): joint-managing director of Bombay Dyeing.
• Noshir Gowadia: aircraft engineer and convicted spy
• Nowroji Saklatwala Chairman of Tata group of companies from 1932 till his untimely death 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 Naval 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 (born 1918): former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited. He is the son of Sir Homy Modi and brother of Piloo Mody.
• Rustom Jal Vakil: cardiologist
• Shiraz Minwalla (born 1973): theoretical physicist, String theorist
• Spenta R. Wadia theoretical physicist.
• Ratan Jamshetji Tata, Sir: younger son of Jamshetji Tata, industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Ratan Tata Trust

In academia

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• 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: Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
• Ness Shroff Ohio Eminent Scholar and Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University
• Rusi Taleyarkhan: Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University
• Rohinton Kamakaka: Professor of Molecular Cell Developmental biology at University of California, Santa Cruz
• Dinshaw Patel: Professor and Abby Rockefeller Mauze Chair of Experimental Therapeutics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, member of the prestigious United States National Academy of Sciences
• N. H. Wadia (1925-2016): Prominent neurologist; Director of Neurology at Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals for 25 years

Military

• Lieutenant General FN Billimoria: Former Indian Army officer and head of Wellington Cantonment, father of Indo-British entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, Lord Bilimoria
• Admiral Jal Cursetji (born 1919): 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
• Lieutenant General Adi M. Sethna: Former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army
• Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore:, 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

In entertainment, religion, sports and astrology

• Aban Marker Kabraji (born 1953): Pakistani ecologist, Asian regional director of IUCN
• Amyra Dastur (born 1993): model, film actress, television presenter
• Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926–2012): investigative journalist and newspaper columnist.
• Ardeshir Irani: Filmmaker
• Aruna Irani: Bollywood actress
• 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 (born 1931): astrologer.
• Boman Irani (born 1959): Indian film and theatre actor, voice artist and photographer.
• 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.
• Daisy Irani: Bollywood actress.
• 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
• Dinyar Contractor: Parsi stage actor, Comedian and Bollywood actor
• Erick Avari (born 1952): Hollywood actor.
• Eruch Jessawala: Meher Baba's interpreter
• Farokh Engineer (born 1938): cricketer.
• Farrukh Dhondy (born 1944): novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist.
• Firdaus Kanga (born 1960): author, actor and screenwriter.
• Firdaus Kharas (1955–): animation, television and film producer and director.
• Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946–1991): rock icon and lead singer for Queen.
• Gary Lawyer: singer
• Godrej Sidhwa (born 1925): 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
• Jivanji Jamshedji Modi Sir: Zoroastrian scholar, Ph.D from Heidelberg, Germany, recognition and awards, for scholarship, from Sweden, France, and Hungary.
• John Abraham (born 1972): Bollywood actor, producer and former model
• Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988): composer, music critic, pianist, and writer.
• Kaizad Gustad (born 1968): film director.
• Kashmira Irani (born 1989): television and stage actress
• Keki Daruwalla (born 1937): poet and writer
• Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla (1875–1956): high priest and religious scholar.
• Meher Baba (Merwan Sheriar Irani; 1894–1969): Indian mystic
• Mehli Mehta (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras.
• Mehr Jesia 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.
• Rohinton Mistry (born 1952): novelist, short story author, screenplay writer.
• Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (1912–2008): journalist & editor, founder of India's first tabloid, Blitz.
• Sam Dastor (born 1941): television actor and director.
• Sanaya Irani (born 1983): television actress.
• Shapur Kharegat (1932–2000): journalist, editor and director of The Economist (Asia).
• Shiamak Davar: Bollywood choreographer
• Sohrab Modi (1897–1984): stage and film actor, director and producer.
• Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957): screenwriter, author and photographer.
• 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 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 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 (born 1922): 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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

• 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: 38th Chief Justice of India.
• Sam Piroj Bharucha (born 1937): Chief Justice of India.
• Soli Jehangir Sorabjee (born 1930): former Attorney-General of India.
• Hormasji Maneckji Seervai (born 1906): eminent Indian jurist.
• T. R. Andhyarujina (born 1933): senior advocate.
• Cornelia Sorabji: 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: Judge, Supreme Court of India; Delhi University; Harvard University

Others

• 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.
• Keiki R. Mehta: ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee
• Rattanbai Petit (1900–1929): second wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Jehangir Hormasji Kothari (1857–1934): philanthropist and world traveller.

In arts

• Hormazd Narielwalla (born 1979)
• Jehangir Sabavala (1922–2011): painter
• Shirin Darasha (1938–2012): playwright

See also

• Irani

• List of Zoroastrians