What BOMAN IRANI Means To Me

I know why you clicked on this link. You are thinking, what does a great actor, Boman Irani, have anything to do with a lowly mortal like Ashwini? You are right. I ask myself the very question every day in disbelief. 

Let me start the story by saying I am a writer, a wannabe writer. I published a novel earlier this year and working on my second novel which is almost complete but I am not happy with it. I am also writing a screenplay which is a whole new territory for me and I have no knowledge of how to go about it. I started taking free online classes from different universities, I read a few screenplays of some iconic movies, I started watching movies not for entertainment but for academic purposes. However, I still couldn't get hold of the screenwriting process. 

I wanted to learn screenwriting from a real teacher, a real writer, on one on one basis, in a real classroom setting with live classes. I decided to save up money and enroll in a class but these classes are too expensive for a middle class person like me. 

In the meantime, I found another aspiring writer, Nikhil and sent him an email requesting him to guide me on the screenwriting process. As humble as he is, he said- "I myself am learning the art of screenwriting from Boman Irani." I shamelessly asked him, "can I also join his sessions?" He said, "let me ask him. If he has a spot in the class, I'll let you know." The prospect of me learning screenwriting from the one and only Boman Irani seemed practically impossible. What did a lowly mediocre writer like me do to deserve such an opportunity? I didn't think I would get the spot in his class. 

But miracles do happen. Boman sir did allow me to attend his sessions on Zoom. I was ecstatic and nervous. The first session was a big blow to me. Honestly, I didn't understand a word of what Boman sir was saying and how other students so easily understood his words of wisdom. More than anything, I was dumbstruck with the divine aura of Boman sir. He has just a magnificent personality that could easily intimidate an average person like me, but he makes himself very accessible and approachable and he doesn't let his larger-than-life aura affect the learning experience for his students. 

I felt extremely insignificant after the first class but I did not back down. I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I cannot afford to waste it. On the second day, I put aside all of my inferiority complexes and focused on each word that Boman sir was telling us. I understood some of the stuff. Gradually, I gathered the courage to ask questions to Boman sir during the class, unlike other students who were giving extremely meaningful insight to the class. 

Boman sir makes each student feel so comfortable that I stopped fearing to speak up during the class. Gradually, I started giving my two cents in the class which might be a very mundane observation or input but Boman sir always listened to my rambling patiently and attentively. He corrected my misconceptions whenever I was on the wrong track, he complimented my undeserving input to encourage me. 

Boman sir treats each of his students with a lot of love and respect. His class is full of talented writers. I have no doubt that a lot of his students will make it big in the Indian film industry and internationally, some of them have already done it. 

Words are not enough to describe what Boman sir is, what his efforts are doing to the writers community in India and what a glorifying history he is making. I am too insignificant to talk about his life. I will say this though, I always admired him as an outstanding actor and a soulful singer but what I learned during these workshops is he is an institution in himself and more than anything, he is an unbelievable human being. Despite being such a great asset to our country and such an accomplished actor in our film industry, the selflessness and the humility with which he interacts with an underserving creature like me, it just blows my mind. I started attending classes to learn screenwriting but I am learning a lot more than that. I am learning how to be a good human being. 

I don't know what I did to deserve this opportunity to accept the abundance of knowledge and kindness from him but I vow to do my best to make him proud and make myself worth this opportunity. 

I love you, Boman sir. I can never describe what you mean to me but I can promise you one thing, I will not let you down.