With an array of work to boast of as an actor, Boman Irani is now ready with his directorial venture Mehta Boys. He firmly believes learning has to be a constant in life

Gurnaaz

Fresh from the final touches to his latest directorial venture, Mehta Boys, Boman Irani welcomes us into his world of storytelling and love for the craft. His journey through photography, theatre, and now filmmaking reflects not just a career but a profound love affair with art of the narrative. There is no hurry to reach somewhere, he doesn’t have those targets to achieve big…It’s the insatiable curiosity and the intention to immerse in the process which drive him. In a conversation with Boman, we discover that he embodies a blend of patience, passion and humility that defines his approach to both life and work.

Keen interest in scriptwriting…

Chandigarh has people who take a keen interest in scriptwriting. This I found out when I had a session with people who shared their penchant for movies, beyond the visuals. Today, some of them are a part of the regular Spiral Bound sessions.

“I want to do a festival circuit first,” he begins about Mehta Boys’ release. But what took so long to direct a film? He responds, “I want to answer this question with a question. What’s the hurry? I am not going to push the agenda so that I finish. I haven’t chased. I just want to enjoy the process. There is a process of becoming a director. I would deny myself that because if I do, I don’t know if I have made a good film. So, it took me a lot of time. I am in no hurry to do anything.”

As he emphasises on becoming a director, rather than just checking direction on his to-do list, this sentiment echoes throughout Boman’s diverse career. From a humble beginning in photography at 32 to stepping on the stage in his mid-thirties, his path to acting was unconventional but deliberate. “People said, ‘Where were you all these years?’ I was preparing myself to be an actor. While I was in the bakery or while I was a waiter or whatever else, I used to read and absorb, and, for me, I love that. If I had become an actor at 21, I would have been an utter, dismal failure,” he says.

One step led to another and learning has been a constant in his journey. But did he always want to be an actor? Pat comes the reply, “Probably. The one thing I always wanted to be is a director, actually. But acting has become a part of directing. Even photography. If I know framing and lighting, it’s because of the years I spent with cameras. Understanding the structure is essential.” Drawing parallels between his various roles along the way, he says, “Any kind of knowledge helps.” The same amount of effort and love goes into teaching. Yes, Boman has been teaching scriptwriting to one and all under Spiral Bound. What came up as a way to connect with the world during the downtime of Covid, has become a classroom learning for hundreds of established and budding scriptwriters. “It should impact people,” he asserts, “and impact me as well. You remind yourself while teaching; you become a student as a teacher.”

His workshops resonate with an infectious energy, where the desire is to impart not just creativity, but also the science behind storytelling. “Creativity comes from a certain amount of imagination, for sure, but it also comes from a certain science. There’s a finance component, a creative component, and definitely a science component. And that’s what I would like to spread among youngsters.”

Boman says he has gained a lot from the industry and when he was working on screenwriting, he made a lot of notes. Amidst discussions on varied things related to showbiz, we touched upon stardom and Boman remains refreshingly grounded. “I don’t consider myself a star,” he smiles. His humility shines through when he says, “When I walk into a place, I don’t carry the baggage with me. I am not that self-aware because I don’t put that up in the list of things I need to tick. Just enjoy the moment. I hate calling myself a star. Let’s call it a good celebrity.” Direction, acting, photography, teaching…While Boman has all these skills, there’s one he wants to acquire and his enthusiasm for learning is palpable. “I would love to play the guitar,” he grins, “I do play it, but not that well.” What more? Boman hints at a future memoir, reflecting on his life and career with characteristic candour. “Every time I think about it, I feel very narcissistic when I start writing,” he quips. “Then I close it.”