Boman Irani reveals he was keen to cast Irrfan Khan in The Mehta Boys: ‘He was a sensitive man, and a wonderful actor’

The actor-filmmaker shared, “Over the years, as actors, you instinctively know when the director asks for your favorite shot—you make a call in that moment. Sometimes, people listen to the actor for emotional truth. But that’s not the main issue. The real challenge is how the story is told—whether it’s well-structured, has its moments, and is properly graphed. A director’s job goes beyond just focusing on performances; it’s about overseeing many elements to bring the story to life.”

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When asked if not him, who would he have cast as Shiv Mehta, Boman Irani quickly named Irrfan Khan. He said, “I was very keen on Irrfan bhai at one time. He was a sensitive man and a wonderful actor. Everybody told me that it would be better if I just sat in the director’s chair, but then when I realised that I knew the subject so well inside out, I finally decided to play the role. Also, the budget (laughs).”

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The Mehta Boys deals with the ‘tricky’ father-son relationship. Boman recalled some shocking things he discovered while researching for the film. “While I was researching for the film, I heard one of the most ludicrous statements by a son. The father and son don’t talk anymore. The son said, ‘Did I give you permission to give me birth?’ I can’t believe it.”