Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 24, 2016)

Boman Irani who is a good friend of Rajkumar Hirani and has featured in all his directorials – Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, and PK – joined the filmmaker as the newest guests on Sajid Khan and Riteish Deshmukh’s show, Yaaron Ki Baraat, on Tuesday.

A source from the set told Mirror, “Raju revealed that he only met and got to work with Boman because of Vidhu Vinod Chopra who produced his debut, Munna Bhai MBBS. He couldn’t afford the actor before as he was working as an editor and adman. Boman admitted that he took to Raju instantly because ‘he is a very simple man,’ joking that even though the filmmaker lives in Mumbai he gets his suits tailored from his hometown Nagpur and still turns up everywhere in a simple shirt and jacket instead.” The 56-year-old Housefull 3 actor also described himself as an “aristocratic pauper” as he has appeared in nearly 1000 films and TV shows as an extra.

Raju went on to reveal that Amrish Puri was the original choice for the role of Dr Asthana in Munna Bhai MBBS. After the late actor turned down the offer, it went to Boman. But it was only when the actor turned up in character, almost unrecognisable, to decide on his final look that Raju was truly impressed with his old man turn. It’s been a mutual admiration society ever since for this actor-director duo!