Sameer Arya

Sameer Arya Biography

Sameer Arya is a successful cinematographer associated with many hits like Anjaam (1994), Koyla (1997), Monsoon Wedding (2001), Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Shootout at Wadala (2013). London Paris New York and Yaariyan are his latest works. He is the son of famous cinematographer of Bollywood in the 1970s and 1980s - Ishan Arya of Garam Hawa fame. His mother noted actress, Sulbha Arya who has appeared in a few movies, stage plays and TV serials. His brother - Sagar Arya is also an actor though not successful. Sagar is married to the daughter of famous film director Basu Bhattacharya- Rinki couple. In fact, his father Ishaan is the cousin of Shabana Azmi and Baba Azmi, members of the famous Akhtar-Azmi film family and Baba Azmi started his career in the 1970s as an assistant of Ishan Arya.

Sameer was born to national award winning cinematographer of Telugu cinema – Ishaan Arya. Sameer too followed his father’s steps and became a successful cinematographer in Bollywood. He has received a nomination at Star Guild Award for Best Cinematography. Sameer has completed 2 decades in the film field with commercial movies like Anjaam and Koyla to visually stylised films such as Drona (2008), though a box office failure. This cinematographer believes in pre-production. Arya has a special ability to get optimum results out of minimum resource and many of his shots looks greater than its actual budget.

Initially he was disinterested in the film line but later eventually drawn to it. He assisted Thomas Xavier, a noted cinematographer and his father’s friend. He started off to earn pocket money of rupees 100 and gradually got attracted to it. His first film was the Madhuri Dixit-Chunky Pandey starrer, Khilaaf in 1991. Duplicate, Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hain, Koi Mil Gaya, Malamaal Weekly, Suhaag and Aa Ab Laut Chale are other noted movies.

He is married to sister of Goldie Behl, Shrishti Arya who herself is a producer and they knew each other since he was 16. The couple has one 10 year old son and the latest buzz is that they are no longer living together.

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Updated: November 29, 2015