Industrialist Harsh Goenka has lauded actor Boman Irani’s rise from working as a waiter at the Taj Mahal Hotel to becoming an honoured guest at the same place.
Sharing a video of the actor on X, Goenka wrote, “From waiting tables at the Taj Mahal Hotel to being their honoured guest—@bomanirani’s journey is a powerful reminder that no dream is too big, and no start too small.”
Early struggles and unexpected turns
After graduating, Boman Irani took a job at the Taj Mahal Hotel, starting in housekeeping before moving up the ranks. However, his career took a detour when his mother suffered an accident. He left his job to run the family bakery, where he spent 14 years. Despite financial stability, he felt something was missing, and his wife encouraged him to explore new opportunities.
A photographer before an actor
Irani initially pursued photography, inspired by his late father, but struggled to make a living. His turning point came when a friend suggested he audition for an ad. To his surprise, he got selected and was paid handsomely. This led to over 180 commercials and theater roles.
The big break: Munnabhai MBBS
His life changed when filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra saw his performance in a short film. Chopra immediately handed Irani a ₹2 lakh cheque, saying, “This amount is for you to be in my next film.” That film turned out to be Munnabhai MBBS (2003), where he played the iconic Dr. Asthana. At 35, his Bollywood journey had officially begun.
Lesser-known facts about Boman Irani
He was dyslexic as a child and struggled with reading and writing. He took up acting at an age when most start thinking about retirement. His first film role came through theater, where he was noticed by Rajkumar Hirani. He has a deep passion for voice acting and has lent his voice to several animated films. Boman Irani’s journey proves that success can come at any age and from any background—what matters is persistence and passion.
