“Why should age become a deterrent?”: Boman Irani on “Uunchai” and traveling seniors

Boman Irani plays the leading role uunchai alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher | Photo credit: special agreement

uunchai, starring Amitabh Bachchan, 80, Boman Irani, 62, and Anupam Kher, 67, shot at 14,000 feet in Nepal, aims to encourage seniors to travel. “It’s not just a film about three old men on a hike. Why should age become a deterrent? This film is about changing and shaking up stagnation and routine,” says Irani, for whom filming was like a Boy Scout vacation – a mix of fun and hard work.

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“We stayed in charming log homes in these remote villages and it felt like a picnic. We were all prepared for the hardships; We knew there would be a lack of oxygen and trekking. But it didn’t bother us that much because we were having so much fun. We played board games and silly charades. Plus, the beauty of the story being told made you proud and blessed to be a part of it.”

A still image of unchai, with Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani and Anupam Kher | Photo credit: special agreement

A fun reminder: “On this trip, people nicknamed me Morning Wake-up Caller. Because if I used to go to the bathroom at -8 degrees, it will be ice cold again, no matter how much you heat the water. A cup over my head and I would scream for the whole village to hear. everybody knew’ Yes Boman naha raha hai‘.”

Fitness and Training: “Due to the altitude, we had to acclimatize. So the first two days would always be a bit slower. Then the next day would be a longer walk of 10 or 12 kilometers. Gradually we walked about 15 kilometers a day, climbing uphill and down again. We didn’t train in Mumbai but we all came back from the shoot well trained.”

Director Sooraj Barjatya with Boman Irani on the set of uunchai
| Photo credit: special agreement

uunchai bring away: “It’s not just a film about three old men on a hike. I don’t want to place this film because we usually hire old people. Why should age become a deterrent? It is a film about changing and shaking up stagnation and routine.

“The first takeaway is that there is no timeline (that others have set for you). You create your own timeline. The second is friendship. If you’ve had a fight, you need to rekindle those friendships because life is too short.

“It’s also about loyalty and paying homage to the people you love. There are so many topics in there uunchai that I can say that people will take what they want from it. The message is: do what you want and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old or too young for it. Young people can also identify with this.”

Amitabh Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa in a still uunchai
| Photo credit: special agreement

Amitabh Bachchan at 80 watching him shoot uunchai: “If a shot is ready before you can say Jack Robinson, Amitabh Bachchan has jumped out of his seat and headed for the target. If it’s a song we’re shooting, he’ll keep a close eye on the choreographer to make sure he’s not doing anything wrong. His whole concentration is on this shot. It’s an incredible energy. Watching him rehearse and do his thing is an inspiration.”

The author is co-founder of Silver Talkies, a social enterprise for 55+, and co-author of Rethinking aging .