Boman Irani’s visit to the Chicago Dar-E-Mehr

The Brilliant, the Extraordinary, The One and Only “Aapro” Boman Irani’s visit to the Chicago Dar-E-Mehr with family and friends

Article by Khursheed Icchaporia, ZAMC member

In September, Chicago experienced a fantastic weekend during which Boman Irani and Irani movietone premiered their directorial debut The Mehta Boys at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) in Chicago on Friday, Sept 20^th, 2024. The movie opening night was a red-carpet event and played to a full house. The demand for tickets was so high that they held two screenings back-to-back on the same night. The film received a standing ovation and high praise. The next day Boman Irani and Alex Dinelaris Jr. conducted an engaging masterclass during which they discussed some technical details and showed some clips. On Sunday, the film won two awards, including the South Asian Film Association (SAFA) award.

On Tuesday, Sept 24^th,2024, Boman graciously visited the Zoroastrian Center of Chicago. When Boman, his wife Zenobia, son Danesh, and friends, including the food writer and broadcaster Kunal Vijaykar, arrived at the Dar-e-Mehr, they were greeted at the door with a traditional achoo-michoo ceremony. As they entered the hall, the Chicago community burst into rapturous applause and sang a welcome “khushali nu geet”. This was followed by a tandarosti in the prayer hall by mobeds of the Chicago community for Boman, his family, and his friends.

After a “meet and greet” with hearty appetizers and some “chanto paani”, the crowd settled into their seats. This was followed by a warm welcome address by ZAMC Board Member Tushad Driver and Boman was presented with a shawl and a gorgeous plaque commemorating his awards and his contributions to the performing arts. His wife Zenobia and son Danesh were presented with Chicago souvenirs.

The fireside chat by emcee Khursheed Ichhaporia, turned into a delightful vaat-cheet about Boman’s beginnings, career, and talents. Later, Boman regaled the audience with his own un-imitable style of entertainment and spontaneous humor. He graciously sang My Way, inviting all the happy, excited, and exuberant community members to join him. His spontaneous singing brought down the house and the standing ovation, applause, and whistling that followed cemented the love that the Chicago community felt for him and shared with him. The ZAMC choir, led by Freya Dhunjisha, closed the evening’s entertainment with a resounding Chaiyye Hame Zarathosti. His roaring Jamvaa chaalo ji invite to the gathering made everyone head for the sumptuous Pullao-daar and Salli-marghi dinner.

Boman’s visit made ALL hearts happy and in his own words he was overwhelmed by the reception by the “the young and the middle-aged” (as there were no “old”) people in the community. Boman and Zenobia Irani shared that they were “really, really happy and overwhelmed”. In his words “The affection and the respect you have shown me and my family and friends … it’s made this trip even more special hundred times over”.

Everyone went home with a happy heart, a song on their lips, and a skip in their step. We wish Boman and Irani Movietone all the best for his career. We hope that they will ALL visit us again someday.

Our grateful thanks to the ZAMC members – especially Roshan Rivetna, Dinaz Weber, Farida Sharyari, Vispy Cooper, Kayomarsh Mehta, and Khursheed Ichhaporia – for organizing this memorable event, Boman’s transportation, plaque, banner, decorations, and gifts at infinitesimally short notice. It would not have been possible without the help of the large number of volunteers.

Pictures are below