Siraj zaidi biography template

Ahead of the Indian Film Festival of Ireland (IFFI), which starts 3rd October in UCD,  we caught up with Siraj Zaidi, actor, writer, filmmaker and the festival’s Director. 

Thanks for chatting with us, Siraj. What were the films you loved growing up?

The Indian films I enjoyed were Sholay, Mughal-e-Azam, Pakeezah, Deewar, Zanjeer. All Shyam Benegal films. The Western ones were Betty Blue, French noir films, Hollywood westerns, Woody Allen films, and Robert Redford films.

A great mix! Can you talk to us about your career in the film industry?

My career started when I finished drama school in London at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts back in 1986. I trained as an actor; I had moved to Dublin then and worked in Glenroe, Fair City, Red Rock, The Bailout, Disenchanted (Disney), and Halal Daddy, among numerous short films. As a director, I have directed two TV series: Away and Home (RTÉ) and Our View (Ulster TV, on the Peace Process). I