BIO
This recording and transcript form part of a collection of oral history interviews conducted by members of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston.
Cyrus Bharucha was born in Bombay, India in 1941. He comes from two middle-class Zoroastrian parents (his father being a pilot and one of the founders of Air India) but due to being in a boarding school for most of his early life, he didn’t have many opportunities to spend time with them. At age 11, Bharucha moved to England at the wish of his deceased father and lived with his aunt and uncle. It was also during this time when Bharucha gained an interest in film-making after frequently visiting the cinema in his free time. In the boarding school in England, he was able to quickly make a place for himself, making new friends and creating clubs for comic books and traveling. He also discovered that he had an affinity for the humanities but not for STEM. After graduating high school, Bharucha received his Bachelor of Science in Photography at the University of Westminster (then known as the Regent St. Polytechnic), where he took an interest in still photography and film in evening classes. He also worked several internships as an assistant and as a photographer at the Science Museum in London. Bharucha’s first job in film was with the BBC film department at Ealing Studios as a cameraman and producer. Bharucha then came to the USA and worked for PBS, Cinemaster Studios, the Children’s Television Workshop (321 Contact), CNN, and many other media companies, including work with the CEO of TV Asia. He also has experience as a professor in media studies. Eventually, Bharucha moved to Houston in 2018. In his spare time, Bharucha likes to write (has published 2 books), paint, and participate in the Zoroastrian community in Houston. This is a continuation of the first interview with Cyrus Bharucha on July 17, 2023. The previous interview covered topics regarding his experiences in boarding school in England as an immigrant from Bombay. Barucha also discussed in-depth about his career in England and beyond, including his experience working as a film cameraman, producer, and director for BBC London and PBS in the USA. In this interview, Bharucha describes his extracurricular activities during his time at the boarding school, his early interests in film and cinema, and his experience working in media production in the United States. Bharucha talks in detail about his experience working with various prominent film producers and personalities including George Plimpton. He also talks about his reflection looking back on his life and recommendations for young people about how to approach life, particularly in regards to pursuing film and the arts.