Boman Irani: Bollywood’s most versatile actor?

Actor opens up about his work ethics, Indo-Pak politics and the iconic role of Virus Sahastrabuddhe from ‘3...

DUBAI: Having starred in over 70 films, Boman Irani is no stranger to the performing arts. A known theatre actor and film artist, he has numerous hits to his name, as well as many award nominations.

Irani’s versatility is the shining merit of his career. The 58-year-old star is eloquent, articulate and charming both on and off screen, as The Express Tribune learnt while chatting with the actor in Dubai recently. “I’m normally very lazy. I have to compensate with a lot of energy,” Irani responds, when asked about hosting the Masala Awards back in December 2017.

PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS

Dressed in a dark suit, Irani sure has a presence. He talks with a big smile and a lot of focus at the same time. “When you’re working, I think all your faculties should be together. That’s why I don’t like sitting down before a show,” he says about performing onstage. “It’s all physical. Your voice shouldn’t settle down, your flow should be there, the eyes should have a brightness to them. I feel a lack of energy means your mind is shutting down. And I’m not happy in that situation… when you do not have energy before a show.”

Boman Irani opts out of Pakistani film

But is he always like that? I ask. To this, the Dostana star confesses, “When I’m at home, I like to sit and watch movies and listen to music and let the food come to me. You’re allowed to be lazy at home. So at home, you should be, well, at home.”

PHOTO: TIMES OF INDIA

Whether it is a negative or a positive role, Irani always takes command of it and owns the scene. One of the most powerful characters he has essays is that of Virus Sahastrabuddhe, the overachieving, antagonising principal in the Aamir Khan film 3 Idiots. I ask him if he sees Sahastrabuddhe in today’s teachers or other people who seem uptight or high-maintenance.

“It’s the other way around,” Irani answers. “I saw Sahastrabuddhe in all of my childhood teachers, all the way to college. He was an amalgamation of 10 different teachers and I melted them together. The beautiful part about Sahastrabuddhe - and I’m saying this proudly of course, I hope you don’t mind – is that people who identify with him were many. Many people said, “Hey MY professor was like him!”

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

So there is some archetype there?” I wonder. “Yes… many, many specific things. There are hardly any generalisations in Sahastrabuddhe,” shared the actor. “Many, many specific things made into one big specific thing. I believe characters should be very specific. Sahastrabuddhe became specific and yet universal. People from all ages have come and said, ‘My teacher was like that!’ which is what I intended. So it was a satisfying performance.”

Didn't back out of Pakistani film, says Boman

Given the way things are between India and Pakistan, I ask Irani his opinion on Indians and Pakistanis working as one. “You look at the United States. Look how a number of artists who work in Hollywood are from Australia, Eastern Europe, England, all over the world. 80% of the cinematographers aren’t even American!” he states. “I think art, in any form, really doesn’t have boundaries. It shouldn’t have boundaries.”

PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS

Boman will soon be seen in an upcoming Karan Johar-Tarun Mansukhani venture entitled Drive. The film is a remake of the Hollywood’s hit of the same name and also stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sapna Pabbi in the lead roles.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.