Denzil Smith is a prominent Indian actor and producer with a diverse career spanning film, television, and theatre. His contributions to the arts have earned him significant recognition both nationally and internationally.
Wiki/Biography
Denzil Smith was born on November 6, 1960 (63 years old as of 2023) in Mumbai, India. Before his acting career, he worked in the corporate sector. His foray into the entertainment world began as a film executive under Alyque Padamsee. He honed his vocal skills with training at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. A pivotal role in the play “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” cemented his reputation as a talented theatre artist. His work extends to Bollywood, Hollywood, and regional language films, showcasing his versatility.
Physical Appearance
Here’s a summary of Denzil Smith’s physical attributes:
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 81 Kg
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Salt and pepper
- Hair Length: Short
- Voice Character: Assured/Strong/Serious
- Voice Quality: Bass
Family & Religion
Denzil Smith hails from an Anglo-Indian family. His parents are Benjamin John Smith, a civil servant, and Kathleen Maude Shepherd. He has two siblings: an older sister, Cheryl Roy Smith, and a younger brother, Lionel Smith (who resides in Dubai). His father passed away when Denzil was eleven years old.
He is married to Carissa Hickling, who works at Siemens.
Career
Denzil Smith’s education includes schooling at St. Andrews High School, Bandra, and a postgraduate degree in English Literature from RD National College, Bandra. His acting journey began in school, with his first play at the age of fifteen. He worked in advertising before fully dedicating himself to acting, starting as a film executive under Alyque Padamsee. His theatre career includes notable performances with Naseeruddin Shah and Lilette Dubey’s theatre groups. He’s also been involved in productions like “The Merchants of Bollywood” and “Taj Express.”
His film career includes roles in various Bollywood and Hollywood projects. Some notable films are “Pyaar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat,” “Paap,” “Frozen,” “The Lunchbox,” “Photograph,” “One Night With The King,” “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” “Viceroy’s House,” and “Brahman Naman”. He’s also appeared in numerous Indian and international TV series and web series.
Beyond acting, Denzil is a prolific voice-over artist, lending his voice to documentaries, radio shows, advertisements, and dubbing work. His passion for jazz music has led him to host various music festivals and events.
In 2006, he established his own production house, Stagesmith Productions.
Award
Denzil Smith won the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role in 2017 for his role in “P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke” (2016-17).
Favourite Things
Here are some of Denzil Smith’s favorites:
| Category | Favorite |
|---|---|
| Actor | Naseeruddin Shah, Pearl Padamsee, The Late Pandit Satyadev Dubey, Carl Mendes |
| Book | The Book of Chocolate Saints by Jeet Thayil, City Adrift by Naresh Fernandes |
| Quote | “We are all born mad. Some remain so!” – S. Beckett |
| Director | John Madden |
Facts
Some interesting facts about Denzil Smith:
- He inherited his love for art, music, and theatre from his musically inclined father.
- Hollywood actor Ben Kingsley congratulated him for his acting in the play “Letters to A Daughter from Prison.”
- His role as ‘Lucky’ in Beckett’s “Waiting For Godot” is one of his most memorable.
- He considers Naseeruddin Shah his mentor.
- He shed 14.5 kg in 40 days for his role as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in “Viceroy’s House.”
- His plays have been staged internationally.
- He is good friends with Arif Zakaria.
- He often declines roles specifically designed for an “English” character in Hindi films.
- He views theatre as therapeutic.
- He is fluent in Urdu, Konkani, and Marathi, in addition to English.
- He enjoys art and craft in his free time.
- He can play the guitar, sing, and dance (ballroom & jive).
- He smokes and drinks alcohol.
