Boman Irani REVEALS wanting to cast late Irrfan Khan for his role in The Mehta Boys; says, “He was a sensitive man”

Veteran actor Boman Irani has made his directorial debut with The Mehta Boys, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. In an interview with SCREEN, Irani opened up about the challenges of balancing multiple roles—writing, directing, producing, and acting in the film. He also revealed that he had once envisioned casting the late Irrfan Khan as Shiv Mehta.

Boman Irani on The Mehta Boys

Discussing the process of writing, directing, and performing in the film, Irani remarked, “There are no wasted words, lines, or even scenes in the film; you cannot afford to take your audience for granted. All I had to learn in this was the writing. We had done a lot of camera rehearsals on the set; we just had to go and deliver.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin)

The actor-turned-filmmaker further elaborated, “Over the years, as actors, you instinctively know when the director asks for your favourite shot—you make a call in that moment. Sometimes, people listen to the actor for emotional truth. But that’s not the main issue. The real challenge is how the story is told—whether it’s well-structured, has its moments, and is properly graphed. A director’s job goes beyond just focusing on performances; it’s about overseeing many elements to bring the story to life.”

Boman Irani on Irrfan Khan

When asked whom he would have cast as Shiv Mehta had he not taken on the role himself, Irani immediately named Irrfan Khan. He said, “I was very keen on Irrfan bhai at one time. He was a sensitive man and a wonderful actor. Everybody told me that it would be better if I just sat in the director’s chair, but then when I realised that I knew the subject so well inside out, I finally decided to play the role. Also, the budget (laughs).”

The Mehta Boys delves into the complexities of a father-son relationship. During his research for the film, Irani came across some startling insights. Recalling a particularly shocking statement, he shared, “While I was researching for the film, I heard one of the most ludicrous statements by a son. The father and son don’t talk anymore. The son said, ‘Did I give you permission to give me birth?’ I can’t believe it.”

Also Read: The Mehta Boys REVIEW: Boman Irani & Avinash Tiwary embrace generational acceptance & love for culture