By Dibyojyoti Baksi

Mumbai, Jun 27 (IANS): Boman Irani, who started life as a photographer, just loves exploring different avenues. After some crackling performances, including in comic roles, the hugely talented actor is trying his voice as a singer.

He is touring five Indian cities with music director Shankar Mahadevan but says he does not want to make a career out of it.

"I never look at it as a career. First enjoy it yourself and make sure that others also enjoy it. And you are not sickening them with your work. But I don't say that I want to be a singer because I got to make a career out of it. I don't plan that too much," Boman told IANS in an exclusive interview.

Wizcraft roped him with music director Shankar Mahadevan for Teachers' Origin Highnights, for which they are travelling to Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore.

Asked if he has any plans to perform on stage beyond the present tour, he said: "Of course we are planning something outside India. Let's see how it goes.

"This opportunity (to sing) came in IIFA (International Indian Film Academy awards), picking up the guitar and singing with 50 little kids. But what I have to say is I just love to explore other things," said Boman.

The actor confessed that it was not an impromptu effort and he had taken lessons for the show.

"I have been practising singing. There is a wonderful lady called Marion D'Cruz with whom I sat for five sessions to perform at IIFA. That was required to open up my voice because you know sometimes we don't use all the registers of our voice.

"Music director Raju Singh made the track for 'Give me some sunshine...' He is the guy who used to play guitar for R.D. Burman. I went to him, became friends and asked him to help me out to gain confidence on just strumming the guitar. I can't call them classes though; I went to him seven-eight days," the actor said.

"See, eventually, any form of art, be it music, cinema or acting or painting, it's a release. When you can sing, when music is involved.... and we love music so much, it is very, very important to release it. Don't keep it bottled in. When you get that opportunity, don't let that opportunity go. It doesn't come a second time around."

Boman says that "Munna Bhai..." was one such opportunity that he is glad he didn't let it go.

"When "Munna Bhai..." came I was lucky to have taken it, though I had said no initially. When opportunity comes, never let it go."