NaomiLoftis490: added some entry w/ infobox!

2026-04-30T00:44:18Z

added some entry w/ infobox!

New page

{{Short description|Indian writer (born 1968)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=December 2020}}
{{BLP one source|date=December 2020}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = S. Hussain Zaidi
| image = S. Hussain Zaidi.jpg
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Syed Hussain Zaidi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|2|28}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Novelist]], [[journalist]], Movie Producer
| alma_mater =
| period =
| genre = Nonfiction, fiction, crime, mafia, investigation, documentary
| movement =
| notableworks =
*''[[Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts|Black Friday]]''
*''[[Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia]]''
*''Mumbai Avengers''
| spouse = Velly Thevar<ref>[http://mumbaiboss.com/2012/08/27/my-mumbai-s-hussain-zaidi/ My Mumbai]. S. Hussain Zaidi.</ref>
| children =
| awards =
| website =
}}
'''Syed Hussain Zaidi''' (born 28 February 1968) is an [[India|Indian]] author and former [[investigative journalist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/a-conversation-with-author-and-journalist-s-hussain-zaidi/?_r=0|title=A Conversation With: Author and Journalist S. Hussain Zaidi|date=20 July 2012 }}</ref> His works include ''[[Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia]]'', ''[[Mafia Queens of Mumbai]]'', ''[[Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts|Black Friday]]'', ''My Name is Abu Salem'' and ''Mumbai Avengers''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/its-a-dons-life/article6797062.ece|title=It's a don's life|website=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 January 2015 }}</ref>

S. Hussain Zaidi is a prolific writer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=IANS|date=2020-10-20|title=Painful to see journalism reduced to soap opera: S Hussain Zaidi|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/painful-to-see-journalism-reduced-to-soap-opera-s-hussain-zaidi|access-date=2020-12-04|website=The National Herald|language=en}}</ref> He publishes under the Blue Salt imprint.<ref name="indiatoday_217140">{{Cite web|date=11 November 2013|first=Debashish|last=Mukerji|title=Penguin India to launch new imprint 'Blue Salt'|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/india/story/penguin-india-to-launch-new-imprint-blue-salt-217140-2013-11-11|access-date=2020-07-27|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Penguin India explores Bollywood with its new imprint|url=https://www.printweek.in/News/penguin-india-explores-bollywood-imprint-13721|access-date=2020-07-27|website=printweek.in|language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Organised crime in India|Mumbai mafia]] has been his focus in books such as ''Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia'', ''Mafia Queens of Mumbai'', ''[[Abu Salem|My Name is Abu Salem]]'' and ''[[Byculla to Bangkok]]''.

== Career ==
Zaidi began his career in journalism while working for the newspaper ''[[The Asian Age]]'', where he became the resident editor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_boss-hussain-zaidi-stands-by-jigna-vora_1617485 |title=Boss Hussain Zaidi stands by Jigna Vora | Latest News & Updates at |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=26 November 2011 |accessdate=5 February 2014}}</ref> Zaidi later worked for several other periodicals, including ''[[The Indian Express]]'',<ref name="IndianExpress">{{cite web|title=List of articles by S. Hussain Zaidi|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/shussainzaidi/|website=Indianexpress|publisher=The Indian Express Ltd.|accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref> ''[[Mid-Day]]'' and ''[[Mumbai Mirror]]''. His in-depth research on the Mumbai mafia has been used by international authors, including [[Misha Glenny]] in ''[[McMafia]]'' and [[Vikram Chandra (novelist)|Vikram Chandra]] in his book ''[[Sacred Games (novel)|Sacred Games]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main18.asp?filename=Ne072906Page_14.asp |title=The People's Paper |publisher=Tehelka |date=29 July 2006 |accessdate=5 February 2014 |archive-date=11 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111213547/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main18.asp?filename=Ne072906Page_14.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ne240312Coverstory.asp |title=India's Independent Weekly News Magazine |publisher=Tehelka |accessdate=5 February 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014193159/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ne240312Coverstory.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Zaidi was once kidnapped in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/amitabh-bachchan-saved-my-life-when-i-was-kidnapped-in-iraq-s-hussain-zaidi/article1-1339542.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422001932/http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/amitabh-bachchan-saved-my-life-when-i-was-kidnapped-in-iraq-s-hussain-zaidi/article1-1339542.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2015|title=Amitabh Bachchan saved my life when I was kidnapped in Iraq}}</ref>

Zaidi has covered the [[Mumbai]] mafia for several decades. His 2002 book ''Black Friday'' detailed the [[1993 Bombay bombings|1993 Mumbai bombings]], an attack consisting of thirteen explosions that killed 250 people. The book was adapted two years later, in 2004, into a film by [[Anurag Kashyap]] also titled ''[[Black Friday (2004 film)|Black Friday]]''. Subsequent to a petition by a group of accused perpetrators of the bombings, the [[Bombay High Court]] stayed the release of the film until a verdict was reached in the case. It was finally released on 9 February 2007 after the [[Supreme Court of India]] allowed it following the TADA court verdict in the '93 Bombay blast case.

In ''Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia'', a historical account of the [[Mumbai]] mafia, Zaidi conducted an interview with crime boss [[Dawood Ibrahim]], who is suspected of having orchestrated the bombings. The book was adapted into the film ''[[Shootout at Wadala]]'' by Sanjay Gupta.<ref name="NYTIndiaBlog">{{cite news|last1=Vyawahare|first1=Malavika|title=A Conversation With: Author and Journalist S. Hussain Zaidi|url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/a-conversation-with-author-and-journalist-s-hussain-zaidi/?_r=0|accessdate=18 April 2015|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=20 July 2012}}</ref>

Zaidi was an associate producer of the HBO documentary ''[[Terror in Mumbai]]'', which is based on the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26/11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emanuellevy.com/pop-culture/hbo-documentary-terror-in-mumbai-narrated-by-fareed-zakaria-debuts-nov-19-6/|title=HBO documentary Terror in Mumbai, narrated by Fareed Zakaria, debuts Nov. 19|work=emanuellevy.com|accessdate=18 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414184605/http://emanuellevy.com/pop-culture/hbo-documentary-terror-in-mumbai-narrated-by-fareed-zakaria-debuts-nov-19-6/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="HBO">{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/terror-in-mumbai/synopsis.html#/|title=HBO: Terror in Mumbai: Synopsis|work=hbo.com|accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref>

Zaidi interviewed former Indian spy [[Lucky Bisht]] in June 2022. Bisht was accused of murder of civilians, for which he was jailed, but was later acquitted due to insufficient evidence.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 May 2022 |title=Lucky Bisht - a prisoner or a patriot? Prolific writer S Hussain Zaidi delves into this dilemma in detail |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/lucky-bisht-a-prisoner-or-a-patriot-prolific-writer-s-hussain-zaidi-delves-into-this-dilemma-in-detail |website=Free press journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 May 2023 |title=एस हुसैन जैदी की किताब पर बनेगी बायोपिक, दिखाई जाएगी एक्स रॉ एजेंट लकी बिष्ट की कहानी |url=https://ndtv.in/bollywood/biopic-to-be-made-on-crime-writer-s-hussain-zaidis-book-story-of-ex-raw-agent-lucky-bisht-to-be-shown-4110942 |website=NDTVइण्डिया.com |language=hi}}</ref>

Zaidi's book [[R.A.W. Hitman: The Real Story of Agent Lima]] about the [[Killings of Raju Pargai and Amit Arya|assassination of Raju Pargai and Amit Arya]], is partially based on his interview with Bisht.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rathore |first=Diwan |title=Biopic of PM’s former bodyguard Lucky Bisht written by Hussain Zaidi becomes the best seller book in just 3 weeks |url=https://cineblitz.in/news-gossip/biopic-of-pms-former-bodyguard-lucky-bisht-written-by-hussain-zaidi-becomes-the-best-seller-book-in-just-3-weeks/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=Cineblitz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=एक्स रॉ एजेंट लकी बिष्ट की ज़िन्दगी से रूबरू होगी दुनिया, एस. हुसैन जैदी ने लिखी 'रॉ हिटमैन' बायोग्राफी |url=https://www.india.com/hindi-news/news/delhi/nsg-commando-ex-raw-agent-lucky-bishts-biography-raw-hitman-published-s-hussain-zaidi-is-the-author-6112950/ |website=www.india.com}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

The 2015 [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]] film ''[[Phantom (2015 film)|Phantom]]'', starring [[Saif Ali Khan]] and [[Katrina Kaif]], is an adaptation of Zaidi's book ''Mumbai Avengers''; the screenplay was written in conjunction with the author.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/kabir-khan-to-cast-saif-ali-khan-in-post-2611-counter-terror-film-630685.html|title=Kabir Khan to cast Saif Ali Khan in post 2611 counter terror film|work=ibnlive.com|accessdate=29 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/8479|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603234409/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/8479|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2015|title=Book review - Mumbai Avengers (Arriving as Saif-Katrina's Phantom)|website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref>

[[Farhan Akhtar]] and [[Ritesh Sidhwani]] of [[Excel Entertainment]] produced the web series ''[[Bambai Meri Jaan]]'', an adaptation of Zaidi's book. The series focuses on [[Dawood Ibrahim]]'s early life and the Mumbai underworld.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Paharia|first=Rashmi|date=2020-01-01|title=Dongri to Dubai - Farhan Akhtar's Next Web Series After Inside Edge 2|url=https://www.binged.com/news/dongri-to-dubai-farhan-akhtars-next-web-series-after-inside-edge-2/|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Binged|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bollywood is making a TV series based on Dawood Ibrahim's life|url=https://somethinghaute.com/bollywood-is-making-a-tv-series-based-on-gangster-dawood-ibrahims-life/|website=somethinghaute.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: Farhan Akhtar-Ritesh Sidhwani to make web series on 'Dongri to Dubai' crime bestseller|url=https://www.peepingmoon.com/webcast-news/news/24327/Exclusive-Farhan-Akhtar-Ritesh-Sidhwani-to-make-web-series-on-Dongri-to-Dubai-crime-bestseller.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=peepingmoon.com/|date=11 January 2019|language=en}}</ref>

[[Shah Rukh Khan]]'s production house [[Red Chillies Entertainment]] released the [[Netflix]] film ''[[Class of '83]]'', starring [[Bobby Deol]] and directed by Atul Sabharwal, based on Zaidi's book of the same name.<ref>{{Citation|title=Class of 83|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10306444/|access-date=2020-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-16|title=Class of 83 first look: Bobby Deol plays a dean in uniform in Shah Rukh Khan's Netflix release|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/class-of-83-first-look-bobby-deol-plays-a-dean-in-uniform-in-shah-rukh-khan-s-netflix-release/story-fWXVuLvmihyn9UFpL23tEO.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

''[[Gangubai Kathiawadi]]'' is a Hindi-language biographical crime film directed by [[Sanjay Leela Bhansali]] and produced by Bhansali Productions in conjunction with [[Jayantilal Gada]]'s Pen India Ltd. The film is based on Zaidi's book ''Mafia Queens of Mumbai''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taneja|first=Parina|date=2020-01-16|title=Story of Gangubai Kathiawadi, whose husband sold her at a brothel for Rs 500|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/who-is-gangubai-kathiawadi-husband-sold-rs-500-alia-bhatt-sanjay-leela-bhansali-film-580029|access-date=2020-07-27|website=indiatvnews.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-15|title=Alia Bhatt as Madam of Kamathipura: Who was Gangubai Kathiawadi, inspiration behind Sanjay Leela Bhansali film?|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-alia-bhatt-as-madam-of-kamathipura-who-was-gangubai-kathiawadi-inspiration-behind-sanjay-leela-bhansali-film-2809499|access-date=2020-07-27|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-15|title=Gangubai Kathiawadi first look: Alia Bhatt will pierce your soul as a gun-wielding brothel owner. Who was Gangubai?|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/gangubai-kathiawadi-first-look-alia-bhatt-will-pierce-your-soul-with-her-gaze-as-a-gun-wielding-brothel-owner/story-FMEBsfXGZPl8vhHEbx8k3L.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

''[[London Confidential: The Chinese Conspiracy]]'' is a Hindi-language spy thriller film streaming on [[ZEE5]] since September 2020. Written by Zaidi and directed by Kanwal Sethi, it stars [[Mouni Roy]] and [[Purab Kohli]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Scroll Staff|title='London Confidential' trailer: Mouni Roy, Purab Kohli in spy thriller with a Chinese connection|url=https://scroll.in/reel/972443/london-confidential-trailer-mouni-roy-purab-kohli-in-spy-thriller-with-a-chinese-connection|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Scroll.in|date=7 September 2020|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=London Confidential: The Chinese Conspiracy is a rather staid and slow affair|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/reviews/story/this-early-bird-misses-the-worm-144791|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-26|title=Mouni Roy & Purab Kohli's 'London Confidential' Is An Espionage Saga Reveals S. Hussain Zaidi|url=https://www.koimoi.com/television/mouni-roy-purab-kohlis-london-confidential-is-an-espionage-saga-reveals-s-hussain-zaidi/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Koimoi|language=en-US}}</ref>

Zaidi mentored journalist Jigna Vora. The filming rights to her memoir ''Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison'' were acquired by Matchbox Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Journalist Jigna Vora's prison memoir 'Behind Bars in Byculla' to be made into a film|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2019/oct/16/journalist-jigna-voras-prison-memoir-behind-bars-in-byculla-to-be-made-into-a-film-2048080.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=India-West|first=R. M. VIJAYAKAR/Special to|title=Matchbox Pictures Acquires Rights to Jigna Vora's 'Behind Bars in Byculla'|url=https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/bollywood/matchbox-pictures-acquires-rights-to-jigna-vora-s-behind-bars-in-byculla/article_6a6a3a6e-fa6a-11e9-8f54-f3bd6dd38bc3.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=India West|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=16 October 2019|title=Jigna Vora's jail ordeal to be depicted on film|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/jigna-voras-jail-ordeal-to-be-depicted-on-film/articleshow/71607103.cms|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Pune Mirror|language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Black Friday (2004 film)|Black Friday]]''
| Based on Zaidi’s book on the 1993 Bombay bombings
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Shootout at Wadala]]''
| Inspired by events documented in Zaidi’s works
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Phantom (2015 film)|Phantom]]''
| Based on ''Mumbai Avengers''
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| ''[[Class of '83]]''
| Based on the book of the same name
|-
| ''[[London Confidential: The Chinese Conspiracy]]''
| Written by Zaidi
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| ''[[Lahore Confidential]]''
| Part of the ''Confidential'' film series
|-
| ''Dongri to Dubai''
| Web series adaptation
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Gangubai Kathiawadi]]''
| Based on ''Mafia Queens of Mumbai''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2023
| ''[[Mumbai Mafia: Police vs Underworld]]''
| Netflix documentary
|-
| ''[[Scoop (2023 TV series)|Scoop]]''
| TV series based on Jigna Vora’s memoir
|-
| ''[[Bambai Meri Jaan]]''
| Crime drama web series
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Indian Police Force (TV series)|Indian Police Force]]''
| TV series
|-
| 2026
| ''[[O'Romeo]]''
| Based on ''Mafia Queens of Mumbai'', also story writer
|}

==Publications==
* ''[[Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blast]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Mafia Queens of Mumbai|Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Women who Ruled the Ganglands]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia]]'' (2012)
* ''Headley and I'' (2012)
* ''[[Byculla to Bangkok]]'' (2014)
* ''My Name Is Abu Salem'' (2014)
* ''Mumbai Avengers'' (2015)
* ''Dangerous Minds'' (2017)
* ''The Wily Old Woman of Dongri'' (2017)
* ''Eleventh Hour'' (2018)
* ''Dawood's Mentor'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2018/jul/01/hussain-zaidis-new-novel-eleventh-hour-a-tribute-to-men-in-uniform-1836542.html|title=Hussain Zaidi's new novel 'Eleventh Hour' a tribute to men in uniform|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref>
* ''The Class of 83: The Punishers of Mumbai Police'' (2019)
* ''The Endgame'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hussain Zaidi pens new novel 'The Endgame' - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/hussain-zaidi-pens-new-novel-the-endgame/articleshow/77327987.cms|access-date=2020-12-04|website=The Times of India|date=3 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Zero Day'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buy Zero Day Online By S. Hussain Zaidi - HarperCollins India |url=https://harpercollins.co.in/product/zero-day/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=HarperCollins Publishers India}}</ref>
* ''[[R.A.W. Hitman: The Real Story of Agent Lima]]'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/R-A-W-Hitman/S-Hussain-Zaidi/9789392099632 |title=R.A.W. Hitman |date=2023-07-04 |isbn=978-93-92099-63-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-15 |title=Biopic of Lucky Bisht, former Personal Security Officer of PM Modi to be out soon |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/biopic-of-lucky-bisht-former-personal-security-officer-of-pm-modi-to-be-out-soon/articleshow/101022828.cms |access-date=2023-06-23 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/commandos-candour-criticism-what-marked-hussain-zaidis-raw-hitman-book-launch-in-delhi/1698129/?amp |title= Commandos, candour, criticism–what marked Hussain Zaidi’s ‘RAW Hitman’ book launch in Delhi |website=The Print|first=Anurag|last=Chaubey|language=en|access-date=2023-08-03}}</ref>
* ''The Black Orphan'' (2024)
* ''The Dangerous Dozen: Hitmen of the Mumbai Underworld'' (2024)
* ''R.A.W. Hitman 2: The Assassinations'' (2024)
* ''Mafia Queens of India'' (2025)

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaidi, Hussain}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian investigative journalists]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Mumbai]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Hindi-language screenwriters]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Twelvers]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male journalists]]

S. Hussain Zaidi - Revision history

NaomiLoftis490: added some entry w/ infobox!