Veteran actor Boman Irani, celebrated for his memorable performances in movies like Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots and Khosla Ka Ghosla, recently shared a deeply personal account of his childhood battle with dyslexia, a learning disorder that shaped but never defined his early years. In a heartfelt conversation, Boman Irani spoke about overcoming challenges and turning what society often labels as a “disability” into a source of strength.
Reflecting on how every individual possesses unique capabilities, Boman Irani emphasised that no two people are the same, not even at the genetic level. He stressed the importance of recognising and harnessing one’s personal strengths rather than dwelling on limitations. Drawing from his own life, he shared how he struggled with mathematics during his school years, unable to understand numbers despite repeated efforts. However, he refused to let that define his identity.
Instead, Irani discovered and leaned into his natural abilities — storytelling, communication and performance. He further explained that these are the attributes which shaped his journey into acting. While he acknowledged his inability to retain arithmetic, he noted his vivid memory for scenes from films he watched as a child, a quality he considers a gift possibly rooted in the same difference others might call a disadvantage.
Boman Irani urged people not to let societal standards define their worth, especially when it comes to judging intelligence or competence. In his view, people should be measured by their personal capabilities, not by where they fall on traditional academic or cognitive scales. For him, what society saw as a deficit only pushed him to explore his unique potential with more determination.
Speaking about his career, Boman Irani revisited one of his most cherished roles — Kishen Khurana in Dibakar Banerjee’s 2006 film Khosla Ka Ghosla. The role marked a significant turning point for him, not just professionally but as a personal triumph over typecasting. Being a Parsi from South Bombay, he was initially met with skepticism when cast as a rowdy Punjabi businessman from Delhi. Many believed he couldn not convincingly portray the character but Boman Irani saw that doubt as a challenge, which only strengthened his resolve. He threw himself into the role with relentless effort, eventually winning audiences over and making the character iconic. He recalled how people were shocked to discover his real background after seeing his performance, which only affirmed the power of dedication and transformation.
Boman Irani continues to explore diverse characters and roles. His latest project is Detective Sherdil, which will feature on an OTT platform and it has an ensemble cast including Diljit Dosanjh, Diana Penty, Ratna Pathak Shah and Sumit Vyas, promising a compelling addition to his beautiful list of movies.
