Mumbai: Veteran actor, storyteller, and mentor Boman Irani hosted a heartfelt evening celebrating the success of Spiral Bound, his storytelling initiative dedicated to nurturing writers and helping individuals discover the power of their own voice.
What began as a celebration of creative expression soon turned into an emotional and deeply personal reflection, as Boman opened up about the childhood experiences that laid the foundation for his lifelong love of cinema and storytelling.
“My mum used to send me to watch films when I was about 11,” Boman shared, recalling the extraordinary role his mother played in shaping his imagination. “I knew everything that an 11-year-old kid should not know about movies. My mother was a shopkeeper, a widow, and she would sit in the dukaan, working tirelessly… and still, she made sure I was watching films.”
Boman revealed that his mother not only encouraged his love for cinema but also used films as a way to keep alive the memory of his late father. “She would tell me stories about my father’s favourite films — ‘This was your dad’s favourite movie… this was Hitchcock’s Rear Window… go and watch it, it’s all from one perspective.’ I don’t know how she knew all this, but she did,” he said.
Painting a nostalgic portrait of his childhood in Grant Road, Boman described how cinema became his window to the world. “There was a novelty cinema in Grant Road… we watched some great films there. I would even put my ear to the wall of our dukaan, which was connected to the theatre, just to listen to what was playing.”
One particularly moving memory became a defining moment in his life. At just 11 years old, Boman accompanied a blind family friend, Farood uncle, to watch El Cid. “I sat beside him and kept telling him everything happening on screen… every scene, every moment,” Boman recalled.
That simple yet profound act changed him forever. “My mother thought it was right for an 11-year-old kid to take a blind man to watch a film. That day, she empowered me. I realised this shy kid is not going to be shy anymore. Someday, he’s going to tell stories.”
His words left the audience deeply moved, highlighting how storytelling is not merely an art form but a bridge between memory, emotion, and human connection.
Through Spiral Bound, Boman Irani is now passing that gift forward—building a vibrant community where aspiring writers and storytellers can find courage, confidence, and purpose through their own lived experiences.
