Candid Conversations

Having performed in a wide mélange of roles with the ease and grace of a trapeze artiste,Irani feels that Well done… is close to his heart in ways more than one. “Firstly the film was directed by Shyam Benegal,whose works are easily amongst the best that the country can offer. And secondly,the satire in the film,is hard hitting and drives home a point to the people whilst making them smile,” he says.

On the relevance of a character like Armaan Ali,that is played by Irani,in his real life,Irani quips that he is someone who is very traditional in his outlook and yet very modern. He says,“Armaan Ali is an average uninspiring ordinary guy who wants to get his daughter married. But when he goes back to his village,he is just sucked into a whirlpool of events,which enable him to stand out as an extra-ordinary human being. Basically he is someone,who has a traditional outlook to life,but is not narrow-minded. There is a scene in the film wherein he just walks out of the house of a proposed bridegroom after noticing the callous attitude that they have towards women. And that I think is a sign of great maturity.” And on working with a co-star like Minissha Lamba,Irani says,“She didn’t look like my daughter from any angle. I mean she is so very pretty. But the quirk was not in rehearsing relationships while acting the characters,but to get under their skin and seamlessly merge them all into one and that is what requires skill. As actors,I think that is what is the most important thing that we need to learn. The ability to be able to reinvent ourselves.”

Irani also feels that the whole idea behind the film is not about raising a finger at the shallow system,but about questioning our own moralistic frailties. “At the same time it is not a film,which makes a person loose hope,rather it is one that inspires people to become extra-ordinary,” he says,adding with a wisp of humour,“In the right way of course.”

The unquenchable thirst to keep trying new winds is something that,for Irani,is the reason behind being in this profession. “When a person can find a part of himself or herself,in the character that he or she is essaying on screen,then you have known that the role has been executed to perfection. That for me is the real high about acting,and about having portrayed diverse characters,” he says.