‘TV’S reach is greater, but films are more impactful’

Film actor Boman Irani (left) has also dabbled in photography and theatre. As for television, he has been part of reality shows, but hasn’t tried a daily soap as yet. Is he up for something like that? “Absolutely, my focus is on remarkable content. I’m not very fixated on the medium,” says Boman, who agrees that TV becomes a part of the viewer’s day-to-day life, while a film is a one-time experience. The actor, who has done films such as Munnabhai M.B.B.S, Main Hoon Na, Khosla Ka Ghosla, 3 Idiots and Jolly LLB, however, adds, “In terms of reach, TV is bigger, but the impact of films is greater.” How about directing a show to bring about a change in the television content (that’s often labelled regressive)? “I have worked in Hindi films for 12 years and am well acquainted with the finer nuances of the trade. Direction will be the natural next step. But at this stage, I’m not sure [about it],” he says. As for theatre, Boman praises how the medium is attracting larger crowds and enthusiasts. “Plays are now more open and experimental. But the spirit of theatre is the same, and teaches you a lot.” Should all actors work in plays at least once to learn ‘real’ acting? “Probably!” says Boman, adding that actors learn and draw inspiration from different sources. “I learnt from theatre, some learn from real life situations while some are just naturals. It can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach.”