Boman Irani preparing himself for 6 yrs to direct a film

Guwahati: Bollywood actor Boman Irani has been preparing himself for the last six years to write and direct a film one day.

For the actor, famed for his roles in films such as 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', 'Three Idiots', 'Page 3' and 'Khosla ka Ghosla', direction is a natural progression.

"I may think that just because I have acted in 85 films, I can write or direct a film. But unless I am prepared with the right kind of studies or understanding, it will not be the kind of film that will appeal to me or the audience," Irani said.

Speaking at an interactive session in the ongoing Sixth Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival here, the actor said he has been going to the United States four times a year for the last six years to learn the rules and methods of direction.

"One should never lose touch with real people as characters evolve from real people and one should connect with them," Irani said.

The 59-year-old actor, who had begun his career in acting with the adguru and thespian Alyque Padamsee, said the medium helped him to connect with the audience.

"I had no formal training in acting but I did 14 years of active theatre before accepting my first role in a Hindi film and it was the discipline of the theatre life that has kept me going," he said.

Before he joined theatre and films, Irani was a professional photographer. He had also worked in a hotel and the family wafer shop which helped him in observing and studying people, gathering information and insights about them and their lives which was "my education in life".

"I have learnt about films by watching films, reading books and observing people.... Any formal training is good but once you are done with the training, forget it and do your own thing," he asserted.

Referring to method acting, the 'Munnabhai MBBS' actor said it is a term which is very loosely used and one should go for a method that suits him or her.

Every actor has an interpretation of his or her own and "I always try to play a role differently and not in the usual way that it is expected to be played," he said.

The actor revealed that he sits with the director during rehearsals and discusses how the "scene can be played and what the audience expects. I try very hard to sort it out during the rehearsals but ultimately the director is the captain and once it is decided how it should be played out for the audience, I do it with conviction".