Hamisha Daryani-Ahuja | |
---|---|
Born | Hamisha Daryani 7 July 1984 [1] Lagos, Nigeria |
Nationality | Nigerian [2] |
Alma mater | ACS International School McMaster University American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2021–present |
Spouse | Sailesh Ahuja |
Children | 2 |
Hamisha Daryani Ahuja (born 7 July 1984) is a Nigerian film producer, director, actress and businesswoman. Ahuja made her directorial and acting debut in the Nollywood-Bollywood cross-cultural film Namaste Wahala . [3] [4] [5] [1]
Ahuja grew up in Lagos and is a third-generation Nigerian born to an Indian-origin family. [3] [6] She attended ACS International School, Cobham, [7] McMaster University, Ontario, and American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York, where she studied acting. [8] She runs a chain of restaurants in Lagos. [9]
Ahuja runs her production company Forever 7 Entertainment and also made her filmmaking debut as a director and actress in the 2021 film Namaste Wahala, a cross-cultural venture of the Nigerian film industry Nollywood and the Indian film industry, Bollywood. [4] [10] [5] The project was a venture to combine elements of both Bollywood and Nollywood film industries, which Ahuja used to create a love story between the two film industries. [11] [12]
Ahuja is bringing to the big screen a film starring Nollywood superstar Sola Sobowale, also known as "Toyin Tomato," and Samuel Perry, better known as "Broda Shaggi," in an effort to further promote the partnership between the Nollywood and Bollywood film industries. The director has promised fans that her newest project will surpass her first one, even though other information are still being kept under wraps. [13]
Ahuja's next venture Postcards was released in 2024. It follows the lives of four Nigerians who discover love, acceptance, and prosperity in India after embarking on individual journeys of self-discovery whilst conquering their fears. [14]
Year | Title | Director | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Namaste Wahala | Yes | Leila | Nollywood-Bollywood debut, Netflix |
Year | Title | Director | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Postcards | Yes | Film Producer | Netflix |
Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Film | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Director of the Year | Namaste Wahala | Nominated | [15] |
Salaam Namaste is a 2005 Indian romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Siddharth Anand in his directorial debut and produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Chopra under Yash Raj Films. The film stars Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in lead roles, alongside a supporting cast of Arshad Warsi, Tania Zaetta and Jugal Hansraj. The film was released on 9 September 2005, and was the first Indian film to be shot entirely in Australia.
Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood. Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix film from Nigeria and the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English. After having spent decades in the movie industry, she was profiled alongside some celebrities and business executives in 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor in Chief of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze.
Nse Ikpe-Etim is a Nigerian actress. She came into prominence in 2008 for her role in Reloaded. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 5th and 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in Reloaded and Mr. and Mrs., respectively. In 2014, she won the Best Actress in a Drama award at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) for playing "Nse" in Journey to Self.
Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His subsequent directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation.
Joke SilvaMFR is a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman.
Amaka Igwe was a Nigerian filmmaker and broadcasting executive. Igwe was the owner of Top Radio 90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. She was recognized as one of the second-generation filmmakers who helped begin the video film era of Nigerian cinema. She remained a prominent figure in the industry until her death in 2014 resulting from an asthma attack.
Asian Nigerians are Nigerian citizens whose ancestry lies within the continent of Asia. It also refers to Asian-born persons currently living in Nigeria. By mid-2008, Filipino residents in the country had increased to an estimated 4,500, up from 3,790 in December 2005. There is a large population of Chinese people in Nigeria which comprise Chinese expatriates and descendants born in Nigeria with Chinese ancestry. As at 2012, there are approximately 20,000 Chinese in Nigeria.
Sola Sobowale is a Nigerian film actress, screenwriter, film director and film producer. Sola Sobowale had her big break in 2001, in the premiere of Nigeria's popular television drama series Super Story: Oh Father, Oh Daughter.
Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject of several controversies.
Toyin Afolayan popularly known as Lola Idije is a Nigerian film actress. She gained recognition after starring as Madam Adisa in a 1995 film titled Deadly Affair.
Charles Inojie is a Nigerian actor, comedian, movie director and producer. He is known for his comedic roles.
Ini Dima-Okojie is a Nigerian actress from Edo State, Nigeria. She resigned from her job in investment banking to enroll at the New York Film Academy. She started her career with the first television appearance on Taste of Love and she has featured on many films including the multicultural romcom, Namaste Wahala in 2021 and the Netflix Nigerian original thriller, Blood Sisters in 2022.
Adunni Ade is a Nigerian American actress and model. She was born on the 7th of June 1976 in Queens, New York to a German American mother and a Nigerian father from Lagos.
King of Boys is a 2018 Nigerian crime political thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Kemi Adetiba. It is the second movie directed by Kemi Adetiba following the release of The Wedding Party. It reunites Kemi Adetiba with Adesua Etomi and Sola Sobowale, after they worked together in her directorial debut, The Wedding Party. The movie is focused on power tussle and stars rappers Illbliss and Reminisce in their movie debut roles. Other casts member include Paul Sambo, Osas Ajibade Ighodaro, Toni Tones, Sani Muazu, Demola Adedoyin and Akin Lewis.
Gold Statue is a 2019 Nigerian comedy adventure drama film produced, written and directed by veteran filmmaker Tade Ogidan. The film stars Gabriel Afolayan and Kunle Remi in the main lead roles. The film was released on 17 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics. It was also nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Nigerian Film for the year 2019. The film also received few awards at film festivals.
Samuel Animashaun Perry, known professionally as Broda Shaggi, is a Nigerian comedian, actor, songwriter and musician. He is a two-time Best Actor in a Comedy, Movie or TV Series winner at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022 and 2023.
Namaste Wahala is a 2020 Nigerian cross-cultural romantic comedy film produced, written and directed by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja on her directorial debut. The film stars Ini Dima-Okojie and Ruslaan Mumtaz in the lead roles.
Postcards is a 2024 Nigerian-Indian Netflix series created by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja. Filmed in Lagos and Mumbai, the series is a cross-cultural venture between Nollywood and Bollywood and stars performers from both industries including Sola Sobowale, Richard Mofe Damijo, Tobi Bakre, Rahama Sadau, Rajneesh Duggal, and Nancy Isime. Postcards is Ahuja's first major production since 2021's Namaste Wahala, and follows the lives of four Nigerians who discover love, acceptance, and prosperity in India after embarking on individual journeys of self-discovery whilst facing their trials and tribulations.