Tanvi P S (BOMBAY TIMES; February 22, 2019)

Boman Irani never misses out on an opportunity to meet students and interact with them. During one such visit to a college in Bengaluru, he got candid with us about acting, the future of Indian cinema and being active on social media.

In your talk, you spoke about retaining innocence when one becomes successful. Does interacting with students help you do that?
Yes, I love going to schools and colleges. The students are so giving. They just run up and put their arms around me, and there is an innocence to that. With working professionals, that kind of innocence isn’t there.

You are very active on social media...
There is a lot of negativity on social media. But I like taking pictures of my friends, family and dogs. I revel in that. Which child won’t bring a smile to your face? So, I put those pictures up. Once in a while, I post a selfie and make fun of myself. I call it ‘poje’ (pose). It is a place to be a little less serious about the world. If I have nothing to say, I don’t put anything up. But I think pictures of innocence diffuse the anger that is so prevalent today.

You talk about your characters in Munnabhai MBBS and 3 Idiots often. Are they your favourite roles?
It did give me a lot of popularity. Happiness does not come from depending on two films. I am happy when I am on stage and I get a nice laugh and a smile from the audience. I enjoy that. I am happy even about films that did not become successful. If I did not have a good time making the film, then it doesn’t have much value for me. I spend months with people, sharing minds, space and meals. If a film makes money, then good for the producer, but to me, the process of making is important.

If you had entered the film industry when you were much younger, do you think you would have had more clarity of thought then?
Perhaps if I was younger, I would have been more of a firebrand. My priorities may have made a difference to me being easy-going and enjoying every moment of life today.

With two of your children also a part of the film industry, do conversations at home centre around movies?
The conversations at home have never been about films. And my children have hardly ever come to my film sets. The attraction to the field is in their DNA, I suppose. I never chose the life path for my children. It has always been up to them. Having said that, we enjoy talking about classic films that I would recommend they watch. I like watching classic films as I believe it is important as my learning and education has happened through them. .

Do you think that comparison between you and your kids is inevitable? Especially with your son Kayoze, since he is an actor?
Thankfully neither of my kids are in the same field, which would have led to comparisons, some of which can be unfair. It is very difficult for a youngster to go through these. Even if you do extremely well, you will still be compared. It is tricky.

What are your words of wisdom to young aspirants who wish to be in the movie business?
Be in it for the long haul. You have to first decide what it is that you are aiming for. Do you want to be an actor or a star? There is a distinction between the two. If you are a fine actor, you will have a long career. You might become a star or you might be a respected actor. Becoming a star is not in your hands; it is up to the audience and you have to respect that. You can have as much publicity and do as many photo shoots as you want. But it is up to the audience. It is also important to persevere. Don’t say things like you stood outside a producer’s office for eight hours. Work so hard at your craft that the producer comes looking for you. And that does happen.

You are someone who has proved that there is no age limit when it comes to chasing your dreams...
Yes, but who made those rules? When I felt the responsibilities I had were taken care of, I gave in to my wish to be in cinema. It happened at the age of 44. It is a very to tricky thing to chase your dream at the expense of your responsibilities. Sure, someone is lucky if they have been able to fulfill their dreams exactly the way they always wished for. If not, I think you should always give a fair shot to your dreams.

How has the industry changed since you made your debut?
I think the industry has become more professional and more schedules are in place. Films get made and released on time. Many departments have become pretty good — camera work has become excellent, special effects are improving by leaps and bounds, and we are getting bigger budgets from the right sources. I still think there is a lot of room for improvement in the writing department, though. I think proficient writers should be available easily.

And how has it changed in terms of content?
Back in the day, we could only watch what was playing in a single-screen earlier. Then came multiplexes, with more choices, and now, with online platforms, your thumb and an icon decides what you watch — and there is no dearth of options. So, the script has to hold you for the first 10 minutes. In that sense, it is raising the bar for writers. The writing has to be sharper, thanks to that format. Writing will determine the future of cinema on all these platforms. To draw audiences, good promotion and marketing is enough, but only the script can keep them engaged. The writer is the hero in films now.

You have forayed into production. Are there any genres that you think Indian audiences need to be exposed to?
I do not think the answer is in genres. We are looking for good scripts, irrespective of the genre. People will consume anything that is worth their time. You don’t say, ‘This was a superb movie, but not the genre I was looking for’. Baahubali did great business, but it will be silly for everyone to start making films like that. Sab ke bas ki baat nahi hai. There is a Raazi, which is nothing like Baahubali, but is a great film. We think people are consuming genres, but people will watch any film that is good.