"Today should be different from yesterday and if there are 3 yesterdays that are the same then there is no reason to do the same thing over and over again" - Boman Irani 
By Devansh Patel (Wembley and Kingsbury Times, London), April 20, 2007 - 13:20 IST
The more one interviews Boman Irani, the tougher it is to keep a straight face and anyone who has sat with the brazen comic actor for as long as me, knows it's always a challenge. But while filming for 'Goal' in London as a grim football coach, Boman promises to be in control. "It's just really good to see you, so thank you. This is fun to do, an interview like this, away from the hectic life of Mumbai and the first interview I am giving for this film”. The actor took time out from his hectic schedule to talk with me about some of his most challenging screen roles including 'Goal'.
One of India's most enduringly popular comedy actors, Boman Irani has become something of a comic institution in his country - given his often outrageous outbursts; some might even argue he should be in an institution.... For over five years now, whether it's playing the college principal in Main Hoon Na to Dr Asthana and Lucky Singh of the Munnabhai series or Oscar Fernandes in Honeymoon Travels, Boman has never been at a loss for comic inspiration. His dazzling, improvisational gifts make it easy to forget that over the years he's also brought a good deal of depth and dramatic compassion to his performances, most notably in his beautifully restrained role of Vardhan in Don and the Rana in Eklavya. I sometimes wonder, what keeps him going? And after a pause, he answered, "Well, there has to be a reason every morning to wake up and figure out whether today is going to be any different from yesterday, and if there are three yesterdays that are the same then there is no reason to do the same thing over and over again. But as long as I am challenged everyday to do something different and find every day a creative experience of a new kind, then that keeps me going.”
Boman Irani's career sky rocketed after he portrayed the role of Dr Asthana in the first of the Munnabhai films titled - Munnabhai MBBS. The film and his character not only became the talk of the town but it reached such a phase that last year he gave eight releases. It just shows that every director wants a piece of Boman and his humour. But does that mean that Boman has achieved his goal in life? To which he said, “The day I believe that I've reached and scored that elusive goal is the day I'll have to give up acting. I do believe that Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho were loved and remembered by all but I don't think every director wants me to do comedy. Viveik Agnihotri's Goal has a grim character and Eklavya was even grimmer. So as long as everybody wants a piece of me, I would love to give them a new Boman but if they want me to play Dr Asthana or Lucky Singh again, I'll be in trouble.”
Along side Boman in Goal is his very good friend and co-star Arshad Warsi with whom he has worked in Munnabhai. I asked him to give his take on Arshad, and pat came the reply: “Arshad is the Jack in the box. He has a problem of sitting still which is his strength in a way and has an amazing comic timing which he brings to all his characters. He has portrayed a good role in Goal.”
Arshad is the Jack in the box. He has a problem of sitting still which is his strength in a way.
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As for Boman's part in Goal, he plays a football coach who is living in oblivion since twenty five years. The actor explains further, “I am hunted out by Arshad's character in the film to come and play as a coach of the team which is in dire straits. The team is in jeopardy of losing everything including their dignity and thus have very little to look forward to because they are a hopeless bunch of footballers. When you first look at my character you'll realize how desperate need of help I'm in. I'm on the run trying to hide my past even though I had a glorious one. But because of that celebrated past and one bad blemish, it becomes even more difficult to survive, till something snaps inside me and I am made to think that we can't go on like this forever. That's when I become more relaxed and find a reason to raise myself and the spirit of the team.”
The film is being shot in various football locations across the U.K and all the actors had to go through some training sessions. Boman too wasn't spared. He and the rest of the cast had to do their homework before reaching the sets. "Whether you're playing a coach or a cop, there has to be some research and homework. Luckily for us we had Andy Ansah who gave me lots of documentary footage on coaches behind the scenes screaming out orders which cannot be scripted. Yes, I had to kick a few footballs to be comfortable but I managed. I also got my hands on the physiotherapists and other people involved in the game. You never know, something or the other comes handy somewhere", said Boman.
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Andy Ansah gave me lots of documentary footage on coaches' behind the scenes screaming out orders which cannot be scripted.
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Ansah has previously shot with the likes of Ronaldinho, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. He has also choreographed the $100 million Hollywood trilogy Goal. Director Vivek Agnihotri of Chocolate fame says that his film Goal has some gripping football scenes and therefore a professional has been called to train John. He went ahead to say that Andy is one of the most respected football trainers in the world. Moreover, John is very athletic and sporty by nature. So when he will be polished to perfection by Andy, the outcome will be truly international. But speaking of films based on sports theme and the commercial aspect of it, the audiences haven't preferred them much in the past, specially the Indian audiences. Boman disagrees on my comment and says, “I think it's untrue. Lagaan and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander which are sports films have done well in the past and the former getting nominated at the Oscars, but the sports films that did not do well were not good films. Take for example a romantic film. You will find some of them to be blockbusters and many of them to be a flop. It's very simple - A film only works because it is a well made film, no matter what the subject is. Honestly speaking, I do not classify these films as sports films. These are films about people and the triumph of human spirit.”
Of late, there is another side of this versatile actor which his fans are praising. The negative roles he portrayed in Don and Eklavya along with a passion of singing which was seen on Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Shah Rukh Khan have generated more fans for this six feet plus actor. No doubt, he is standing tall. “As I've said before that I will only do a film if the role challenges me. Eklavya did challenge me and I'm sure it would have to any other actor. It was a very complex and a difficult role. It doesn't matter if the personality is negative or positive but what matters is that whether the audiences enjoy it or not? I will give it my best shot to play a good role and if it doesn't work I will keep on trying harder and harder”, replied Boman.
Not only has the actor worked with the likes of Mr Amitabh Bachchan in Waqt and Eklavya but has also shared screen space with the new brigade of stars like Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan and now John Abraham. He remarks, “I am so happy that Abhishek has come of age and so has Riteish and John, Hrithik has matured into a fabulous actor. The more new faces the merrier. We need to have new actors in the industry because we are short of variety. For example Arshad Warsi is available to us today but five years ago he wasn't available. I mean to say that he was there but we were not using him. So the loss is ours. Someone like Jimmy Shergill can be used more. I am so thrilled with the entry of Konkana Sen Sharma or the resurgence of an actor like Ranvir Shorey or Kay Kay Menon. Even Shreyas Talpade walks in and does Iqbal and then Dor. I'd just like to say that I am sad that Ranvir Shorey is not being used enough besides his cameos. He should be flooded with work but I am glad that it's finally happening with Khosla Ka Ghosla, Traffic Signal and Bheja Fry.”
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I am sad that Ranvir Shorey is not being used enough besides his cameos.
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Next, Boman puts his top four performances till date. Here he goes: “It's a difficult one to answer but to start with it has to be my role in Khosla Ka Ghosla, then Lucky Singh in Lage Raho Munnabhai, third is Dr Asthana in Munnabhai MBBS and definitely Eklavya's Rana Jayawardhan.”
And finally he gives his take on the director of Goal - Vivek Agnihotri who has earlier made a film titled Chocolate which was shot in London too. Boman describes his director as: “He is a very stylish director. What he has done in Goal is that he has tinned down the style and played the human drama very well. Also, he has matured every single day while shooting this film and that's commendable.”
And last but not the least, the most clichéd question I ask to my celebrities - What message would you like to tell our readers who'll be reading your interview next week? And surprisingly he answered, “I am quite amazed to hear that I have fans. I am not saying this humbly but I am surprised that I have fans because I always look at myself as an actor contributing to the telling of the story rather than an actor who adds to the showcasing of it. Yes, I enjoy going up to them and taking pictures with them and they all demand a 'Jaadu ki Jhappi' (hug) from me and I am more than willing to oblige and give them what they actually deserve - A hug for their continuous love, support and criticism.”
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