Mumbai, Dec 2 (UNI) Talismanic character actor Boman Irani, celebrated for his versatile performances across film and theatre, completed 65 today.
Born in a Parsi-Irani family, Boman Irani’s early life was marked by adversity. He lost his father before birth and was raised by his mother alongside three elder sisters—Shireen, Shehnaz, and Roshan.
Overcoming childhood dyslexia, he pursued education at St. Mary’s School and later completed a diploma from Mithibai College. For several years, Boman Irani managed his family’s bakery, a modest enterprise that shaped his resilience and work ethic.
Boman’s passion for acting emerged during his school days, leading him to train under theatre veteran Hansraj Siddhia between 1981 and 1983. Under the mentorship of Alyque Padamsee, he performed in several theatre productions, including Roshni at Versova’s Regional Theatre.
His television work has included roles in series like “Family Ties” and “Mahatma vs Gandhi”, where he stepped into the role of Gandhi after Darshan Jariwala declined the part.
Boman’s on-screen journey began in 2000 with appearances in commercials for brands like Fanta, Ambuja Cements, and Ceat Tyres. His breakthrough came with a brief but impactful role in “Darna Mana Hai” (2003), earning critical acclaim.
Boman is well known for his comedy roles like portraying whimsical characters like Dr. Asthana in “Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.” that garnered widespread attention and a Filmfare nomination for Best Comic Role. He reprised the whinsicality in the role of an unscrupulous businessman in the sequel “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” and delivered another iconic performance in 3 Idiots alongside Aamir Khan, earning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.
This year marks a significant milestone in Irani’s career as he ventured into direction with The Mehta Boys, a film that has already garnered international recognition. The film won the Best Feature Film award at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and premiered at Canada’s IFFSA Film Festival, where Boman received the Best Actor award for his performance.
His fellow colleague actor Anupam Kher wished him with a loving message, “Happy Birthday my friend. You are the bestest. Love and prayers always.”
Boman’s son, Kayoze Irani, shared a video of him and his father playing the guitar and singing Jamaica Farewell by Harry Belafonte. He also posted a collection of family pictures from Boman’s younger years, captioning the post: “Happy birthday Bob @boman_irani.”
