[3] Born in Moscow into a russified Armenian family of Artyom Adabashyan, an official at the Ministry of Construction Industry, and Valentina Barkhudarova, a teacher of German language.

[4] According to Aleksandr, he was raised inside the Russian culture, he doesn't speak Armenian language and he visited Yerevan only twice in his life.

After that he turned into a regular Mikhalkov's collaborator, taking part in the majority of his movies as an art director, artist, screenwriter and actor (usually appearing in episodic roles).

He directed two movies on his own: Mado, poste restante (which was nominated for the 1991 César Award as the best debut work[6]) and Azazel mini-series, the first adaptation of Erast Fandorin's adventures.

His second wife is Ekaterina Shadrina, an assistant costume designer who also appeared in a small role in Mikhalkov's At Home Among Strangers.