Marzi Pestonji is an Indian choreographer and TV personality. He is a member of Shiamak Davar’s dance team and has been working with him for over 20 years. He was a judge on the dance-based reality TV show, Dance India Dance (DID).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Marzi Pestonji was born on Tuesday, 29 December 1987 (age 36 years; as of 2024) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Marzi Pestonji with Shiamak Davar
Marzi pursued a degree in Commerce.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 39″; Waist: 31″; Biceps: 12″
Family & Caste
Marzi was born into a middle-class Parsi family.
Parents & Siblings
There is not much information about Marzi’s parents and siblings.
Wife & Children
He is married to Kashmira Pestonji whom he met at the Shiamak Davar’s Dance Academy. She worked at the dance academy as a choreographer and special project manager from 1999 to 2020. In 2021, she started working as a payroll and HR specialist at Explorer Software Group. The couple have a daughter together.
Marzi Pestonji with Kashmira Pestonji and their daughter
Career
His dance career started in 1993 when he and his parents watched a performance by Shiamak Davar and his dance troupe on Parsi New Year in Mumbai. He stated that Davar’s background dancers inspired him. He then enrolled himself in Shiamak Davar’s Dance Academy when he was in school. When his father refused to give him money, he borrowed some from his grandfather to go to dance classes.
Marzi Pestonji (second from left) on stage with Shiamak Davar at an event
In 1996, he became a teacher at the academy. In 1997 he was given the opportunity to be a background dancer in the film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai” starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Karisma Kapoor, and Akshay Kumar.
Marzi Pestonji (left) with Karisma Kapoor on Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997)
His career as a dancer in Bollywood expanded when he became Shiamak Davar’s assistant choreographer. He contributed to films such as Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Dhoom 2 (2006; for the song Dhoom Again), and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). He has trained and choreographed many Bollywood actors for films and award shows.
Reality Television
Marzi made his television debut in 2011 as a judge on the dance-based reality show Dance India Dance- L’il Masters Season 2. He then appeared as a judge on Dance Ke Superkids (2012).
Marzi Pestonji (left) with comedian Bharti Singh and Shiamak Davar on the sets of DID Lil Masters Season 3
In 2013, he stated that he was going to take a break from reality shows to focus on teaching at the Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA), Mumbai where he is chief operating officer and chief master instructor. He returned to television as a Master on Dance India Dance Season 6 in 2017. He was a judge (also called Master) on the show and his team was named “Marzi Ke Mastane”. The team came second place in Season 6 of the show. He then appeared on Nach Baliye Season 7 (2015), a celebrity-based dance reality show. He was a judge alongside Preity Zinta and Chetan Bhagat.
Marzi Pestonji taking a selfie with co-judges Preity Zinta and Chetan Bhagat on Nach Baliye 7
His journey as a judge continued with Dance India Dance Season 6 in 2017, where he shared the panel with Mudassar Khan and Mini Pradhan.
Matzi Pestonji (centre) on the poster of Dance India Dance Season 6
Favourites
- Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
- Film: Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
- Destinations: Vancouver, Greece, Athens, Machu Pichu
- Drink: Reposado (Tequila)
- Bollywood Dancers: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor
Facts/Trivia
- He is popularly referred to as Master Marzi. He has been given the nickname Udi Baba.
- Marzi Pestonji stated that he has watched his favourite film, Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), over 300 times.
- He is fond of travelling. He stated that the best thing he ate while travelling was seafood paella at Juan y Andrea (a restaurant in Formentera, Spain) or Ses Boques (a restaurant in Ibiza).
- Marzi drinks alcohol. In an interview, he stated that he doesn’t drink often and has tequila (Reposado) as a shot if he is drinking.
- Marzi stated that he enjoys choreographing Amitabh Bachchan the most because he “just listens quietly and does his steps.”
Marzi Pestonji (extreme right) and Amitabh Bachchan whom he has choreographed for many award ceremonies
- Marzi stated that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is his favourite person, friend and dancer. He stated that he had been friends with her since she was preparing for the Miss World pageant and went to Shiamak’s dance academy for training.
- Marzi stated that in the late 90s, he wanted to graduate and get a 9-5 job as dance wasn’t considered an “honourable occupation”.
- Speaking of his experience working with Bollywood stars, he said,
The big names of the industry have zero tantrums. It is the B-grades actors who have them.” [1]Hindustan Times
References
| ↑1 | Hindustan Times |
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