Bharat Express

A tale of great grit and oodles of talent: Happy Birthday Boman Irani

Happy Birthday Boman Irani: The very talented actor, voice artiste and photographer turns another year younger!

Humble Beginnings 

In 1979, Boman Irani worked in Taj Mahal Hotel on a salary of just Rs.105/-.
He studied at Mithibai College and did a diploma in the waiter course. The tips he received at the Taj Mahal Hotel as a waiter is what got him his first camera.
Photography was his passion which finally became a lucrative entrepreneurial venture for him.
The actor who has now starred in more than 100 films started out as a photographer by selling photos at Rs.20/-.

Clicking his way to Success

Post his marriage he became the official photographer of the two professional boxing teams including the World Boxing Championship. The first portfolio he shot was of fellow Parsi community TV actor Sanaya Irani.
The big break for the trigger-happy actor came with the Miss India competition and later he even did the photography for Ford Look of the year.

Once things picked up he started charging Rs.3000/- for a session and went Rs 20,000/-. The models he was shooting were being noticed and in turn so was he.

Theatre Calling and Bollywood Debut

It was through the lens that he got involved in the world of theatre and finally the world of cinema. He was mentored by the doyen of theatre Mr. Alyque Padamsee and even worked as a voice over artiste.

He made his film debut at the age of 41 with the film ‘Everybody says I’m fine’. He has gone onto do iconic roles in films including playing a Sikh comedic character in ‘MunnaBhai MBBS’, the quirky professor Virus in ‘3 idiots’ and even acted as the lead hero opposite Farha Khan in ‘Shireen Farhad ki toh nikal padi.

Boman is in a league of his own. He has been a photographer, voice artiste as well as actor for commercial print, tv and now digital ads

Rolling in the ’60s

The artiste celebrates his 63rd birthday this year. He has a credible body of work both as a photographer and actor. He was most recently seen in the senior-buddies film ‘Unchai’ and his upcoming films include ‘Mughal Road’ and ‘APJ Abdul Kalam ‘.