This actor was homeless, worked as waiter, sold tea, was rejected, then one advice made him star; he is...

Boman Irani, one of the finest actors in the industry, has always inspired us with his incredible journey. His story is a true testament to how hard work pays off. From starting as a waiter to becoming one of India’s most beloved actors, Boman's remarkable rise to fame is a journey worth celebrating.

Let's take a look at how he achieved this success.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Boman Irani (@boman_irani)

Early life:

Boman Irani was born on December 2, 1959, in Mumbai into a Zoroastrian family. Tragically, his father passed away six months before he was born. He grew up with three older sisters: Shirin, Shenaz, and Roshan. Despite facing the challenge of dyslexia in his childhood, Boman overcame it and continued to pursue his dreams.

Boman Irani completed his high school education at St. Mary's School and then took a two-year course to become a waiter at Mithibai College in Mumbai. Along with his studies, he also helped run a bakery and snacks shop in Mumbai with his mother. Sadly, his mother, Jerbanoo Irani, passed away in June 2021 at the age of 94.

Struggles:

Struggling with low confidence, Boman Irani turned to singing to help improve his speech. His mother played a crucial role in supporting him, recording the applause he received after his performances. Boman listened to this recording multiple times, which helped significantly boost his confidence.

Boman's mother took on the responsibility of supporting the family by managing their Farsan and namkeen shop at Grant Road. After completing college, Boman decided to contribute to the family and sought a job at the Taj hotel. He expressed his interest in working at the rooftop restaurant to the manager, eager to start his career.

Worked at hotel

While working at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Boman Irani also earned extra income by selling photographs of school cricket and football matches for a small price of 20 to 30 rupees. When his mother met with an accident, he left his job to help run the family’s Farsan shop. Over the next 14 years, he balanced managing the business with family life, including getting married and having children. Despite these accomplishments, Boman felt unfulfilled. Motivated by his wife’s support, he decided to pursue new opportunities and take a different path.

Determined to follow his passion for photography, Boman Irani persuaded Aspy Adajania, the President of the Indian Boxing Association, to let him cover the World Boxing Championships in Mumbai. Although he was initially turned down, Boman worked at Adajania's office in exchange for the opportunity. This led to him becoming the official photographer for the Indian Boxing Association and later for the Norwegian Boxing Team. Using his Pentax K1000 camera, he captured iconic shots, including those of Norwegian boxer Ole Klemetsen. In an interview, Boman once revealed that he didn’t own a house until he was 47.

Turning point

A major turning point in Boman Irani’s career came when a friend suggested he audition for an advertisement. After being selected, Boman went on to appear in over 180 ads. His success in advertising opened the door for a role in a low-budget short film, where a clip from his performance caught the attention of producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

After catching the attention of Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Boman Irani was offered the role of Prof. J. Asthana in Munna Bhai MBBS, with a paycheck of Rs 2 lakh. Though initially unsure about the film, Boman decided to trust the vision of debutant director Rajkumar Hirani and accepted the role. Interestingly, Amrish Puri had been considered for the same part before Boman, but he was eventually turned down.

In one of his podcasts, he said, “I didn’t have a house in my name till I was 47. There was a time when my building had to be repaired because I could see the sky from my bed. Life can be cruel, childhood can be cruel. Some people get it easy. But it is tastier when it comes hard.” “I am still struggling for my art, my craft. I went from door to door facing rejections because I wanted to do something unique. So, I have a sense of rejection also. Just because I have got a certain stature today, it doesn’t mean that people will tell me, ‘You write anything, we will make it.’ There is rejection even today,” he added.