Boman Irani

Biography

Boman Irani (born 2 December 1959) is an Indian actor, photographer, and voice artist who works predominantly in Hindi cinema he has also worked in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, and Malayalam. He has acted in more than a hundred films in his career.

Irani was born on 2 December 1959, in Mumbai to an Irani Zoroastrian family. His father died 6 months before Irani was born (d. May 1959). Irani was dyslexic, as well as having a lisp, which he eventually overcame.

His mother (b. 18 November 1926, d. 9 June 2021) often encouraged him to repeatedly watch movies at the Alexander Cinema—where he would go daily after school—to observe their cinematography and art. He finished his secondary schooling at St. Mary's School, after which he undertook a 2-year waiter course at Mithibai College in Mumbai.

Following his polytechnic diploma course, he joined the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower where he worked as a waiter and in-room service for two years. With a promotion, he became a waiter at the hotel's rooftop French restaurant, Rendezvous

Until he was 32 years old, Irani also managed the bakery and namkeen shop that belonged to his mother—who took over from Irani's father after his passing—where he used to make and sell potato chips and tea. Located on Mumbai's Grant Road between Novelty Cinema and Apsara Cinema, this shop was also where Irani first met his mother-in-law.

While working at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, using the tips that he received, Irani bought a camera and took sports pictures (school cricket and football matches), selling them for 20 to 30 rupees, which he continued till well after marriage.

His epiphany came when he saved money for seven years to take his family for their first-ever vacation to Ooty, but they ended up in a desolate run-down hotel called Shawham Palace. Irani decided to take control of his life, and instead of living the petty existence of a photographer selling small photos, he would start to dream and live big and provide more for his family. Irani calls it his "zero number bulb moment".

Irani continued to be a photographer, but now at the age of 32, went 6 months prior to the world boxing championships in Mumbai to meet Aspy Adajania, then-president of the Olympic Boxing Association of India, and requested to become the official photographer of the World Cup.

When Adajania told him there was no need for him, Irani offered to work at his office for 6 months for free in return for a ring-side badge to cover the event. He continued to try to convince Adajania, and covered a state boxing match in a different manner than other photographers. Adajania was impressed by his photos and his passion and appointed Irani as the official photographer.

Meanwhile, he became the photographer for the Norwegian boxing team and photographed specific photos that they needed of Ole Klemetsen. When asked about his charges, Irani asked for the international rate. Irani took the required photos with his K-1000.