The assistant director of Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu won hearts as the tubby Sudo in Student of the Year. A t2 chat with Boman Irani’s son, Kayoze…

What does your name mean?

Kayoze in Persian means royal. Since I am a Parsi, I think my parents got the name from there.

What were you doing before becoming Sudo in SOTY?

I have done a lot of ad films with Ram Madhvani, like Himani Sona Chandi Chyawanprash with Shah Rukh Khan, Hippo Chips, Tata Indicom and so on. Then Shakun Batra (the director of Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu) asked whether I would like to work with (Karan Johar’s) Dharma Productions and I was like, ‘Of course, I would love to!’ To be honest, till today, being an assistant director on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu has been my best experience. We shot a chunky portion in Las Vegas and it was fun working with Imran (Khan) and Kareena (Kapoor). It was my first time on a film set.

How was it facing the camera for Student of the Year?

When Karan Johar offered me the role, I was completely taken aback. I told Karan that I would start sweating before the camera (laughs), but Karan was confident and said, ‘You have your father’s genes, you will be a good actor!’ I was nervous but it wasn’t that bad because I knew a lot of the crew members. Besides, Karan is an amazing person to work with. He ensures that you enjoy yourself at work.

Any advice from your dad before your first film?

He made it very simple. He asked me to learn my lines well and to forget the camera. When he told me this, I was like, ‘I have obviously learnt my lines!’ But I realised later that he meant I should learn my lines so well that I shouldn’t have to think about the next line... dialogue delivery should be spontaneous. This advice really helped in the last scene of the movie... the part where I get drunk and rough-talk the principal (Rishi Kapoor)... I did that scene in just two takes.

Is it difficult being Boman Irani’s son?

It is a privilege being Boman Irani’s son. Being his son may have given me a start but that’s not everything because at the end of the day I have to perform. For me I see only pros and no cons being his son. We have a very friendly relation and we do not share a strict dad-son equation. I talk to him about everything and we both have PS3s and play FIFA everyday, even after a fight.

Unlike your father, you’ve started young on the big screen. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to have acted in good movies with good roles — like Kunaal Roy Kapur’s in Delhi Belly or Sharman Joshi or R. Madhavan’s in 3 Idiots. I also hope to direct two films. I would love to make adventurous films like Indiana Jones.

Your favourite Boman Irani films are...

Khosla Ka Ghosla, 3 Idiots and My Wife’s Murder.

Pramita Ghosh

Will Kayoze make it big in Bollywood? Tell t2@abp.in