For me, success means internal happiness

BOMAN IRANI,

Boman Irani’s mantra in life is to be happy and to find joy in everyday life. The actor, who turned 61 yesterday, shares that one should have something to look forward to in life. “As long as I am happy, age is nothing but a number. Emotionally, I am sharper, more alive and excited than ever, even if physically, I can’t do things that a 25, 45 or 55-year-old person can,” says Irani, who visited his sisters in Pune for his birthday.

Having been in the industry almost two decades now, the Munnabhai MBBS (2003) actor applies his mantra at work, too. “One could have a blockbuster, but if you aren’t happy, then what is the point? There could be obstacles in life but you have to learn to be happy. For me, enjoying myself while making a movie is success. If I was miserable making a hit film, the success won’t give me joy... I believe if I am not happy, I am not successful. No amount of money, box office returns or awards can ever match up to internal happiness,” he says.

This year, besides the pandemic, mental health was one topic that received a lot of attention, and Irani admits that it needs to be talked about. “We have to hold it together. We have to keep an eye on each other and be there for friends and family... Today, more than ever, we need to spread the message of hope, that everything will be fine,” says the actor whose rendition of The Wizard Of Oz (1939) song, Over The Rainbow, with a group of girls from a choir, went viral recently.

With two movies, Jayeshbhai Jordaar and ’83 ready to release, Irani is excited about 2021. “I love to plan. Be it travel, the movie that I am writing and directing, the screenplay classes with budding writers, which I have had 200 sessions so far, all of these energise me. I am also in talks for three new films, which should be fun,” he shares.

Actor