‘There are no shortcuts to success’: Boman Irani inspires audience at Kolkata event

Organised under FLO Kolkata’s “Power Up Your Dreams” initiative, the event brought together women entrepreneurs, homemakers-turned-professionals and aspiring achievers for an afternoon centred around resilience, ambition and self-belief.

Welcoming the audience, FLO Kolkata Chairperson Mansi Agarwal announced a new initiative titled “Main Sab Kuch Kar Sakti Hoon”, aimed at helping women achieve financial independence and improve communication skills.

Speaking candidly about his struggles before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most loved actors, Irani recalled working as a waiter at Taj, helping at his mother’s bakery shop and selling photographs from school sports events for Rs 20.

“There are no shortcuts. You have to start from the bottom to understand the value of success,” Irani said. “I have fallen many times, but I kept going. ‘Main laga raha’ — and that’s why I am standing here today.”

The actor also opened up about his childhood struggles with dyslexia and the emotional support he received from his mother after losing his father before birth.

“My mother never forced me to become someone else. She always told me to be myself and not imitate others,” he said.

Highlighting the growing influence of women in society, Irani said, “Today women power is leading us,” while encouraging the youth to hold on to their dreams and learn from life’s challenges.

(Reporting by Rajat Dhar, Photos by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)