Boman Irani recalls Sunil Dutt’s precious life lesson that he follows till date: ‘On Munna Bhai sets, he asked why would I eat alone’
In an interview with SCREEN, actor Boman Irani spoke about Sunil Dutt’s precious life lesson on Munna Bhai MBBS sets and why he rarely rewatches his own films.
Actor Boman Irani, who played Dr JC Asthana in Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), recently reflected on how things were different on Munna Bhai sets. Boman also spoke about the love he received for his role as Virus in 3 Idiots, and how the OTT space offers greater creative freedom.
In a conversation with SCREEN, the actor recalled, “When I did Munna Bhai, there was a change on the first day of shoot. During lunch break, Sunil Dutt sahab looked around and asked where the food was. He was told, ‘Aapke van mein pahuch gaya.’ There were no vanity vans earlier. He said that why would he eat alone in the van.”
Sunil Dutt instantly made arrangements for the entire cast and crew to sit and eat together. “He asked to bring a few beach umbrellas and two tables from production, so that everyone can sit and eat together. That was a change I felt was different at the start of my career,” the actor added.
Inspired by the late star, Boman Irani carried that culture into his directorial debut, The Mehta Boys. “We did not have van wala lunch in The Mehta Boys, thinking of what Dutt sahab said to me. Saath mein khao. Unit means one. It’s very important to understand that unity of a unit. Vo ek farak agaya hai and it’s back. Today’s generation is very professional, I feel very proud to work with them. Otherwise more or less, everything is the same,” the actor shared.
Boman recently shared a video of airport lounge staff reacting to his film 3 Idiots playing on the TV. The actor added that this might be just the second time he’s watched his own film. “I haven’t actually watched it since a past few years. I may have watched it more than once for sure, but the chef was actually telling me that he has watched it 15 times. So I said maine do baar dekha. It was so sweet what was happening at the airport,” he said.
The actor continued, “I don’t tend to watch my movies over and over again. I don’t know. I feel like ‘Raat gayi, baat gayi.’ I get to hear about Virus wherever I go and I am very proud of it. I was feeling very awkward actually. I was looking at the television and thinking, ‘Yeh toh buddhha agaya mera.’ I was then looking left and right, thinking that nobody should see me staring at myself. That would be so narcissistic. But, I find strange watching my own movies, I don’t know why.”
Boman Irani, who will next be seen in the ZEE5 film Detective Sherdil, also expressed his gratitude towards the digital medium providing several opportunities to artistes. “OTT gave me the opportunity to make the kind of film I wanted to make. The Mehta Boys is the kind of film that might not be the best choice to release at theatres in this climate. I disagree though. I think we should put everything in theatres. We respectfully put The Mehta Boys on OTT. And, I am very grateful to OTT for that. We can be a little braver about subjects, thanks to OTT,” he said.
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Boman Irani lastly spoke about his debut at Cannes, where he attended the premiere of his film Tanvi the Great. “Mera toh sab kuch late hi hota hai life mein. I felt good, it was beautiful. I have been looking at these photographs since years, socha tha ek din main bhi karunga. There should be a wish in your heart. The word manifestation is overused, but I am a believer of it,” he concluded.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
