Michael Mascarenhas

Be it through his delectable cuisine or his films, Michael Mascarenhas has been a proud flagbearer of the Goan cultural identity. Despite having no formal training in acting, he has carved a niche in the hearts of his audience and strongly advocates the production of Goan films. 

He was born in the beautiful fishing village of Gauravaddo in Calangute, the queen of beaches in Goa. However, his received his education in Mumbai. He graduated from Mumbai University in Commerce and had a brief stint in a chartered accountancy firm. But his desire for autonomy led him to move back to Goa in 1983 with the desire to open a bar and restaurant. After the initial few days, he realized he needed some more experience. So he went back to Mumbai and got trained himself at Sea Rock hotel in Bandra in bartending. He started his venture on 5th December 1983 called Golden Eye bar and restaurant which he expanded with the help of his brother Mathias. 

In the year 1996, he launched a new project called Flying Dolphin Beach Bar and Restaurant. For 35 years he had a script which had been penned by his friend Alex Mascarenhas and produced by his uncle Peter Mascarenhas in the year 1978 called Dusreak Lagon (On account of someone else). This has now been adapted for the movie Soul Curry (2016). 

His first choice to play the lead was Jackie Shroff. During the IFFI he met the executive producer Sumit Dutta and requested him to make an introduction to Shroff. When he connected with Shroff their conversation continued in Goa for two days during his sojourn to Goa. He was thrilled and very enthusiastic to be a part of this movie. Nielesh Malkar was roped in to be the director who in turn brought in the brilliant Seema Biswas. The film narrates the story of a music obsessed father with an orthodox worldview and his four daughters. The film was received warmly by both critics and audiences alike upon release.