"I had thought Karan would call me to direct a movie" – Kayoze

Being Boman’s son, Read More">was ‘being an actor’ the only option? I always wanted to get into the movie line but never in front of the camera. I had plans of directing and editing. These are my two biggest passions. I was working on Shakun Batra’s Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu when Karan just asked meRead More

Being Boman's son, was 'being an actor' the only option?
I always wanted to get into the movie line but never in front of the camera. I had plans of directing and editing. These are my two biggest passions. I was working on Shakun Batra's Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu when Karan just asked me to audition for the part in Student Of The Year. Just because my father is gifted in acting does not necessarily mean that I will be the best in business. Sachin Tendulkar's son may not be the best batsman in the world. But honestly, this is all Karan. I mean, I thought I'd be an assistant director on Student Of The Year. But one day when I walked in late night for the edit of EMAET, my profession was about to go for a toss.

What was the audition you gave that impressed Karan Johar?
There was a scene of another film. I think it was a scene from an old Amitabh Bachchan film. Actually, I don't know yaar! I can't remember my audition. Then they told me, "The camera is off. Now imitate your father." So in the mood for entertainment, I imitated him from 3 Idiots, Munnabhai, etc. Karan saw the tapes and he said, 'Congratulations, you're a part of Student Of The Year'. Yes, the camera was never off. I thought Karan will one day call me to direct a movie for Dharma but never did I think he'd call me to act.

Now that you've ventured out as an actor, will you still make it as a director one day?
I will never give up on my dream to become a director ever. We've all had a blast on the sets shooting for more than 100 days together in and out of Mumbai. It's difficult to top up this experience I feel. I really would love to go back to directing one day. I like to take it step by step. I am waiting for SOTY to release and see the reaction of the audience first. I am not reading any scripts. I have script ideas and things already on paper of what I'd like to direct one day but right now I am going to wait till October 19.

You're 24; your kind of cinema and the choices of movies will be so diverse than the mass audience, isn't it?
I like feel-good films. I don't like today's films. I have grown up on Lawrence Of Arabia, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Woody Allen movies, etc. I love directors like David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood, Ron Hoaward and my favourite actor is Peter Sellers. I love his film The Party. Having said that, we must also embrace the fact that we are a part of the Hindi Film Industry. All we need to do is bring in new sensibilities to make Hindi movies without losing the entertainment value. We are not even 5% of the population that watch English movies. You and I and a few more will watch them but the large chunk of our audience wants Hindi entertainment.

You've grown up on Karan Johar movies too?
I love Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai too. But Sana, who is sitting opposite me as of now, I am a big fan of hers because the costumes that she wore in KKHH fit her perfectly even today (laughs). Seriously, I love Karan Johar movies. Every time you see his movies, you laugh and cry. It's nostalgic.

We expect a certain kind of story telling from KJo, Read More">but is SOTY a U-turn for him? Student Of The Year isn’t a u-turn that KJo is taking. It’s a coming of age for him. He is revisiting his youth and he is keeping up with today’s time. He knows what the market wants andRead More

We expect a certain kind of story telling from KJo, but is SOTY a U-turn for him?
Student Of The Year isn't a u-turn that KJo is taking. It's a coming of age for him. He is revisiting his youth and he is keeping up with today's time. He knows what the market wants and he has his own flavour that he has embedded in the film. Karan is very smart in the way he makes his movies like how Raj Kumar Hirani does. Both know the pulse of the audience. Student Of The Year is a feel good film that you'd want to watch it again and again.

Ok, don't tell me you are dancing in the film.
Be surprised! I am dancing in the film. I don't know how well I have danced though. But yes, I am dancing. I wasn't on the dance floor all alone. As for pranks I played on sets, all the pranks were played on Alia and Sana. Alia is my favourite. I share a wonderful rapport with her. I love to tease her. We became close friends by the end of the film. We used to climb a hill to reach to our hotel and I used to get tired and she used to give me medicines. Varun and I have constantly pulled her leg.

What changes have you noticed in today's generation of actors?
Today's actors have become too professional. It's important! I think the acting talent has become superior. Like Ranbir, performance after performance you become envious of how amazing he is. He is just so good at what he does. Sometimes I feel he makes the film. He lives the character and puts so much heart in it. Even with Imran, he is a thorough professional. With Sid and Varun too, the same applies. I hope both of them make it big post Student Of The Year.

Boman must be super proud of where you are right now. Like father, like son?
He is a proud father, yes! My Dad told me on the first day of the shoot, "Just learn your lines". I said, "Dad, don't trouble me". But it's only after the 50th day I realised what he was saying. Of course, he has gone into the other detailing of my character. I am a Parsi and I had to learn Hindi pretty well. I did that. My Dad wouldn't be all over me in giving a lecture. He would help me in making me solve my own issue instead of him solving my issues. There were two mentors for me on SOTY - My Dad and Karan Johar.

When you leave Costa after 45 minutes, you leave with this – He has the wit + the work ethic to keep me coming back and of course, a whacky straight faced humour. That makes Kayoze Irani an object of desire. Not funny? Ok, Read More">take this from Kayoze himself – “In my audition I playedRead More

When you leave Costa after 45 minutes, you leave with this - He has the wit + the work ethic to keep me coming back and of course, a whacky straight faced humour. That makes Kayoze Irani an object of desire. Not funny? Ok, take this from Kayoze himself - "In my audition I played Amitabh Bachchan and got selected for SOTY." I call Kayo (as he's fondly called) who happens to be in Dharma. I am in Costa below sitting with Sana sipping coffee and celebrating the response she had garnered from her interview (1,25,000 + page views in 24 hours). Kayo visits the coffee house, places his order, joins us and delivers, "Do you know I will be the happiest person if my interview gets 30 + views". I get my dictaphone out. Kayo is taken aback. It's not on yet. He then jokes, "The exclusive story is that Sana's summer camp clothes she wore in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai still fit her." Kayo describes himself as a regular guy, but according to Sana, he is anything but that. This is a big year for Kayoze for he makes his debut in acting. His dream however is to become a director. He says, "I thought Karan will one day call me to direct a movie for Dharma but never did I think he'd call me to act." At a glance, Irani looks like a regular guy, but then he smiles or hoots with laughter cracking a joke or two on Sana Saeed and there's an almost Atkinson or Sellers-like aspect to his features. But perhaps, it's his neat, unthreatening yet not the conventional handsome look which is the key to his appeal. He hasn't tucked his chequered shirt in; he is wearing beige pants and sports shoes and spectacles. He is 24 and he is Boman Irani's son. I get done with my interview. He sits back and calmly delivers, "Ok, now I'm about to give you a story on how Varun and I saved Sana from the two boys". I laugh out loud. Sana's crackling up, and Kayo warns, "Hey, don't you put that on me."

Introducing Kayoze Irani from Student Of The Year.

Be honest - were you good in academics or sports?
In real life I was never good in academics and sports. Looking at me do you think I will be good in any sports in Student Of The Year? Kabbadi in SOTY? No way! Knowing Karan Johar, he will never allow it. I may look sporty but I am not that kind.

Watch Song Promo: Vele (Student Of The Year)