“Let there be comparison…It is the choice of the public…”, Boman Irani is certainly not apprehensive of possible comparisons if drawn between him and the other Bollywood stars who will kick start a new season of reality shows soon. And he admits it with an easygoing manner that has become the actor’s USP. All set to host the soon-to-start business reality show, Pitch, on the business channel Bloomberg-UTV, Irani in fact asserts that comparing Big B and Salman Khan with him would be like comparing 3 Idiots to Firaaq.
Irani, who has pleased the critics with his performance in films like 3 Idiots and Munna Bhai MBBS, explains, “If there are any comparisons indeed, people would compare me with my own performance in my films. Saying that, my new show is very different to the other reality shows on television.”
Irani agrees that Pitch is bound to have an entertainment quotient but will cater to a different set of audience. He points out, “A business reality show is a welcome break. Period… The show has a progressive slant to it. It is not like we award the winner with Rs five crore to go on a luxury cruise.”
The business reality show, says the actor-turned-TV host, would also tap in the popular Indian sentiment and the audience’s fancy for the human angle. “Lots of people in India aspire to do business. Whether be it a small scale business, cottage industry, dabbawallahs, paan-wallahs or investors, they all exist here. The show has great aspiration-quotient. You love to watch a person on screen and then start rooting for him to win Rs five crore. That gives you the entertainment quotient.”
What is Irani bullish about right now and he replies immediately, “Can I say I am hungry?” and follows it with his trademark laughter. He discloses his personal investments to be artworks but refuses to disclose the artists on his wall. He adds, “Do you want to bring the tax-men onto me? But, I can tell you the names of artists whose works I appreciate – Nikhil Chaganlal, Sunil Padwal.” In between more laughter, he also adds, “There are artists who I love but can’t afford, like MF Husain, Krishen Khanna and Souza.”
Irani has been a photographer and worked extensively on the theatre stage before becoming an actor. In fact, he also reveals that he has been in restaurant business and ran a store for many years in Grant Road. Now that he is in television, the actor admits he has dabbled in many “trades” over the years. However, the brains behind this reality show actually chose him for his ability to communicate with millions of viewers.
He explains, “Yes, they could have hired a business guru as a host, but they chose me instead. I will be acting as a facilitator between what’s happening on the sets and those who are watching us on TV. I am pretty excited. I get to meet great minds on the sets, an opportunity I don’t get everyday.”
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