Dinyar is a theatre icon, who was deservedly awarded the Padma Shri last Republic Day for his contribution to theatre. A comedian par excellence, his mere entry on stage was enough to make the audiences roar with laughter. He will be missed not only by the Parsi audiences, but by everyone who has seen him perform on stage, TV and in films.

My association with him goes back to 1968 when after 12 eventful years with Adi Marzban, I was invited to launch a Parsi theatre wing under the Indian National Theatre (INT) banner. Apart from some of my colleagues from my work with Adi Marzban, we introduced a plump, chubby-faced actor called Dinyar Contractor.