Boman to rule Bollywood

Boman Irani is a movie buff. He eats, drinks and sleeps cinema. So it is hardly surprising that he is the first choice as host of the quiz show, 'Bollywood Ka Boss'.

The fashion-photographer-turned-actor has always had a thing for cinema. When he was a child, living next to the Novelty Cinema at Grant Road, the theater staff knew him quite well, because he used to haunt the place. At the time of 'Amar Akbar Anthony', when all theaters were running house full, Boman watched the movie at the only place where he could get a seat. "When I went back home, my mother asked me where I had been, and I told her. She gave me one tight slap, and asked me if anyone had seen me there," recalls the actor, "I said that only Amitabh Bachchan had seen me. She then forbade me to go back there, because, she said, the hall was filled with bugs." The place in question was the Taj Theater, at Kamathipura. No wonder his mother threw a fit!

Boman began his career with the critically acclaimed 'Let's Talk'. However, he received his due recognition only in 'Munnabhai MBBS'. The actor does not believe in the length of roles, but it the impact they have. "Gabbar had only twelve scenes in 'Sholay', but he was the life-blood of the film," he points out.

His personal favourites include Balraj Sahni and Nargis. He juggles his time between his loves – film, theater and television. "You also do various jobs. You go to many places. How do you arrange your time?" he asks.

Famous as Dr J Asthana, Boman has films like 'Love Story 2050', 'Maharathi' and the English film 'Jiju' in his kitty. In 'Love Story 2050', he plays a scientist, who helps people travel through time. And now the man who sat in the hot seat across Shah Rukh Khan in 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 3' is going to host a show of his own. Now the audience will judge him as a host. As he says, "I am as filmy as anybody else."

There will be two stages of the show – contestants will first be selected through either SMS or written test. The winner will take home Rs 50 lakh.

-(SAMPURN)