Glad to see character actors getting lead roles: Boman Irani (IANS Interview)

At an age when most Bollywood actors end up with "itsy bitsy" roles, Boman Irani is getting to play strong and sensible characters and pitches for Indian cinema exploring such films where such actors get equal prominence - as in the recently-released "Finding Fanny".

"I think there are many situations where character actors are getting equal prominence like main leads, but eventually it is the kind of cinema that has to be explored. 'Finding Fanny' is a great example of the same," the 54-year-old told IANS in an interview.

Directed by Homi Adajania, the English language Bollywood entertainer "Finding Fanny" had Arjun Kapoor and Deepika Padukone as the lead pair, but the film's USP was veteran actors - Dimple Kapadia, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur - in key roles.

"I am so glad that 'Finding Fanny' found a great audience. I am very proud," said Boman, who began his acting career pretty late, but he was lucky to get meaty and memorable roles soon enough.

He started his film career in 2001 with "Everybody Says I'm Fine!", but proved his mettle as J.C. Asthana in Rajkumar Hirani's 2003 hit comedy "Munnabhai M.B.B.S". There was no looking back for him after that.

He followed it up with "Being Cyrus", "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", "Khosla Ka Ghosla", "Don - The Chase Begins Again" and "3 Idiots".

The actor admits that in the past, there were films that had put the spotlight on senior actors and proved to do well.

"I think 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' was a good example where the title role was played by Anupam Kher. There have been many examples in the past too," he said, stressing that an artiste's age is of little significance.

"I feel it is not about characters, but more about the story. It is eventually the story that we are telling and then everything comes under play. We have to come up with a great story," added the actor who is geared up for his next release "Happy New Year".

Directed by Farah Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, the film is centred on six losers who set out to change their destiny.

Other actors who will be seen in the film include Deepika, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, and Vivaan Shah along with Shah Rukh himself.

"Happy New Year" is set for a Diwali release.

(Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in <mailto:nivedita.s@ians.in>)